Box Score

April 27, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Southern Illinois softball team (26-22, 12-8 MVC) came-from-behind to edge Missouri State, 4-3, Sunday afternoon in the series finale in Springfield, Mo. The Salukis won two out of three games for their fifth Missouri Valley Conference series win.

Freshman right-handed hurler Danielle Glosson only allowed one hit with four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings of solid relief for her sixth win of the year, and senior first baseman Lauren Haas went 2-for-3 to continue her hit streak to five games.

"Danielle (Glosson) and I talked after she gave up some runs in yesterday's game, and I told her she would have to be prepared to come in an make an impact today," said head coach Kerri Blaylock. "Nikki (Waters) got us far, and then Glosson came in and got the job done."

The Salukis opened a 2-0 lead on Missouri State courtesy of a two-out two-RBI single by senior outfielder Tiffanie Dismore in the top of the second.

With runners on second and third, Dismore lined the ball into left field to give SIU its third lead of the series.

"Tiffanie's hit with two outs was tremendous because it set the stage for us to be able to move the runners all game," Blaylock said. "We just did a great job with timely hitting in key situations."

Missouri State answered immediately though with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.

Starting pitcher Melissa Porche, who won Saturday's first game with a two-RBI bases loaded single, connected on a solo home run, and pinch hitter Ashley Knehans followed with a RBI single to even the score, 2-2.

After a scoreless third inning, MSU pushed another run across in the ensuing bottom of the fourth on a wild pitch by Saluki freshman starter Nikki Waters to give the Bears a 3-2 advantage.

Waters proceeded to walk the next batter, which put two baserunners on with two outs, and sent coach Blaylock to the bullpen for Glosson.

The Winston-Salem, N.C. native threw a wild pitch to move both runners up to second and third, but ended the inning with a crucial strikeout to limit the damage to one run, and keep the Salukis within reach.

Southern Illinois used the energy from Glosson's strikeout to battle back with two runs in the top of the fifth to regain the lead 4-3.

Sophomore second baseman Alicia Garza drove in Dismore from third base on a soft bloop single over the second baseman's head to tie the game, and senior Krystal Stein came home on a passed ball for the go-ahead, and eventual game winning run.

SIU had a great chance to add to its lead in the top of the seventh after Porche walked the bases loaded with two outs, but she halted the Salukis opportunity to secure an insurance run with her ninth strikeout of the game, and send the contest to the bottom of the seventh.

Glosson worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but ended the game with a groundout, and popout to give the Salukis their 12th conference win of the season.

Porche fell to 15-12 on the year, and surpassed 700 career strikeouts in the defeat.

Southern Illinois will continue play on the road Wednesday at the University of Illinois for a non-conference doubleheader against the Fighting Illini beginning at 4 p.m.