Southern Illinois University
Iowa St
Saluki Softball Capitalizes On Errors To Defeat Iowa State
03/14/2001 | 12:00:00 | Softball
February 25, 2001
Las Cruces, N.M. -
Iowa State University committed three errors in the bottom of the seventh inning enabling Southern Illinois University to score three runs to post a 3-2 come-from-behind victory Sunday in the Troy Cox Invitational at Presley Askew Field.
The game went scoreless for the first three innings until Iowa State's Julia Lindsey reached base with a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth. Lindsey was then quickly driven in on a solo home run to left by Lauren Cathey which gave the Cyclones a 2-0 advantage.
SIU cut into the Iowa State deficit in the bottom of the fifth when Netty Hallahan walked to lead things off for the Dawgs. Haley Viefhaus then reached on a throwing error by Cathey and just like that, SIU had two on with no one out. A sac bunt by Tahira Saafir moved both Hallahan and Viefhaus up a base, but the Salukis only came away with one run as a pinch hit sacrifice fly by Andrea Harris scored Hallahan to make the score 2-1.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh, Iowa State's defense came unglued as three errors enabled the Salukis to spark a late-game rally. Erin Stremsterfer led off with a single to left field and advanced to third after Hallahan reached on a fielding error by first baseman Kimi Yoshizawa. With runners on the corners Viefhaus lined out to short, but the shortstop muffed the throw in attempt to double up Hallahan at first scoring Stremsterfer and awarding Hallahan second. Tied 2-2, Saafir then drove one deep to leftfielder Laura Browning who dropped the ball as Hallahan crossed to give the Dawgs the 3-2 win.
Amanda Rexroat, Saafir, and Stremsterfer each went 1-for-3 to lead the Salukis offensvely. Sophomore Katie Kloess earned the win on the hill as she improved to 2-1 on the season. Kloess went the distance to pitch a three-hitter which included three strikeouts. In addition, Stremsterfer and H. Viefhaus were named to the Troy Cox Invitational's all-Tournament Team.
SIU, now 3-4, on the year will return home to host the Southern Classic on Saturday-Sunday, Mar. 3-4. The Salukis will open play on Saturday against Bradley at 12:30 p.m., and Butler at 2:30 p.m. All games for the event will be played at IAW Fields.
