Box Score

March 6, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

HONOLULU - The Southern Illinois softball team lost to Eastern Kentucky, 8-6, Thursday afternoon in the first game of the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii. Senior outfielder, Krystal Stein, went 3-for-5 at the plate with a run batted in, and sophomore outfielder Katie Wilson hit a three-run home run to lead the Saluki offense.

With the score tied, 4-4, in the top of the seventh inning, Eastern Kentucky (9-4) scored four runs to on three-straight bases-loaded bloop singles to take an 8-4 advantage into the bottom of the seventh.

All three RBI-singles by the Colonels fell into the shallow outfield, with the final hit just out of the reach of Wilson diving in right field.

The Salukis began a comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and runners on second and third, junior outfielder Katie Schmidt grounded to EKU's shortstop Erin Luther, but the throw sailed over the first baseman's head, allowing two runs to score to bring SIU within two, 8-6.

Eastern Kentucky's relief pitcher Jodi Pence ended the comeback though, getting Stein to ground out to end the game.

Southern Illinois stranded 10 base runners in the game and three out of the eight Colonels' runs came on home runs.

Eastern Kentucky struck first in the top of the second inning. With two outs, the Colonels' catcher, Jen Handley, hit an RBI-single into center field to put EKU up, 1-0.

Stein led SIU right back in the bottom half of the second. With senior Becky Wegmann on second, Stein hit a slapped RBI-single into center field to score Wegmann and even the score, 1-1.

The Colonels answered in the top of the third inning on a solo home run to right field by first baseman Adriel Foxley to regain the lead, 2-1.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Eastern Kentucky added two more runs to its lead in the top of the fifth frame.

With two outs and a runner on first, third baseman Shyenne Hussey, hit a two-run home run to center field to put EKU up, 4-1.

The Salukis stormed back in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game on one swing of the bat by Wilson. With one out and two runners on, the Alton, Ill. native crushed her second home run of the season to left field to make it, 4-4.

Southern Illinois will continue play at the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament on Thursday against host No. 15-ranked Hawaii at 7 p.m. HT.