Box Score

March 2, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team dropped a, 3-0, decision to the No. 5/6-ranked Northwestern Wildcats Sunday afternoon at the Coach B Southern Classic at Charlotte West Stadium.

The Salukis (10-6) could only produce one hit off Wildcats starter Lauren Delaney in the loss. SIU freshman starter, Nikki Waters, went the complete game, giving up three runs on four hits, while setting a new career-high with nine strikeouts. Her previous career-high of eight came at the Jacksonville University Tournament against UNC-Greensboro on Feb. 8.

After a scoreless first two innings, Northwestern got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning. With one out and a runner on second base, Wildcats shortstop Tammy Williams hit an RBI-single into center field to give NU the early lead, 1-0.

Waters battled back however to retire five straight batters, three on strikeouts to keep the Salukis in the ballgame.

SIU found ways to get runners on base without recording a hit through the first four innings. The Salukis had five base runners from a fielder's choice, a walk, an error and two hit by pitches, but could not register a hit off Delaney until the bottom of the fifth.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, freshman center fielder Chelsea Held slapped a hard-hit bunt that trickled into left field for the first and only SIU hit of the game. Held advanced to second on a stolen base, but sophomore second baseman Alicia Garza struck out to end the scoring chance.

Northwestern (10-3) added two more runs on back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the sixth and seventh innings by Williams and center fielder Kelly Dyer to make the final, 3-0.

Northwestern was the highest-ranked team to ever face Southern Illinois at home in the program's history. The previous highest-ranked team to play in Carbondale was No. 13 Iowa at the Coach B Classic in 2000. Iowa defeated the Salukis, 2-1.

SIU fell to 1-2 in the Coach B Classic and continued play against Missouri Valley Conference opponent, Bradley, at 3 p.m. at Charlotte West Stadium.