Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

April 22, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team (24-21, 10-7 MVC) lost a pair of one-run games to UT Martin on Tuesday afternoon at Charlotte West Stadium to conclude its home regular season.

SIU fell to the Skyhawks for the first time in the history of the program in the doubleheader opener, 2-1, and had a bottom-of-the seventh inning rally attempt fall short, 4-3, in the second contest to extend its losing streak to five games.

The Salukis stranded eight baserunners in game one, and allowed three unearned runs in the top of the fourth in game two, which proved to be the difference.

Junior left-handed relief pitcher Katie McNamara did not give up a hit or run in 6 1/3 innings of relief pitching combined in the two games to lead the Salukis in the circle.

Southern Illinois returns to Missouri Valley Conference this weekend for a three-game series at Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. The series opens with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 26 beginning at 12 p.m., and concludes with a single game on Sunday at noon.

Game One - UT Martin 2 Southern Illinois 1
The Skyhawks jumped on Saluki freshman starter Nikki Waters early in the top of the first to take a lead they would never give back.

Leftfielder Ashley Benbow led-off the game with a double, and scored two batters later on a RBI-single to left field by Megan Williams to put the visitors up, 1-0.

Williams advanced all the way to third on an ensuing groundout to SIU third baseman Katie Wagner, and scored the eventual game-winning run on a RBI-triple to right-center field by Laura Roberts to give UTM at 2-0 early advantage.

Southern Illinois answered immediately in the bottom of the first with a RBI-single by sophomore rightfielder Katie Wilson to cut the lead down to one run, 2-1, but could not drive in a runner the rest of the game.

UT Martin nearly added to its lead in the top of the second with a runner on second base and two outs. Benbow hit a hard line-drive single into the outfield, but Wilson threw out Megan Latimer at home on a frozen-rope throw from right field to end the inning and keep the Salukis and Skyhawks separated by one run.

SIU had its best chance to tie the game or take the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Junior catcher Jayme Wamsley doubled to left field to leadoff the inning and senior pinch runner Clare Ford advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, but was stranded after a lineout and groundout to end the inning.

Waters took the loss for the Salukis to fall to 12-11 on the year, while Skyhawks' starter Kara Harper improved to 7-9.

Game Two - UT Martin 4 Southern Illinois 3
Southern Illinois trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh, yet could not complete a dramatic comeback, by stranding a runner at third after scoring three runs.

In the bottom of the seventh, junior outfielder Katie Schmidt recorded her second hit of the game with a bases-loaded two-RBI single to draw SIU within two, 4-2.

Schmidt advanced to second on the play, giving the Salukis runners on second and third with no outs.

SIU however was only able to drive in one of the two baserunners on a groundout by senior Becky Wegmann, and ended the game on a groundout with the tying run at third.

UT Martin took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a two-out RBI-double by second baseman Greer Long, and followed with three unearned runs in the top of the fourth to take a 4-0 lead.

Saluki junior reliever Katie McNamara took over with one out left in the fourth for freshman starter Danielle Glosson, and froze the Skyhawk hitters for the remainder of the game.

McNamara, who did not allow a hit in the final three innings of game one, recorded three strikeouts and did not give up a hit during the final 3 1/3 innings to keep SIU within striking distance for its seventh inning rally attempt.

Sophomore second baseman Alicia Garza went 2-for-3 at the plate, and Schmidt went 2-for 3 with two RBI to lead Southern Illinois' offense in the defeat.