Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
California
Saluki Softball Falls To No. 4 California, 2-0
03/14/2001 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 9, 2001
Sunnyvale, Calif. -
Sophomore Mikella Pedretti hit a solo home in the bottom of the sixth inning to spark a two-run rally leading No. 4 California (22-0) to a 2-0 win over Southern Illinois University Carbondale Friday in the 15th Annual National Invitational Softball Tournament.
Ahead 1-0 in the count, Pedretti drove Erin Stremsterfer's second delivery over the left field wall to give the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead with one out. Jocelyn Forest then scored California's other run when she was driven in on a single by Kristen Morley to ice the 2-0 victory.
Despite a crucial called strikeout on Amanda Rexroat in the top of the fifth which proved to be the turning point of the game, SIU hung tight with the nationally-ranked Bears. The Salukis combined to muster four hits in the game led by Kendra Moore's pair of singles. Haley Viefhaus and Netty Hallhan then made up the remaining two hits. Stremsterfer took the fall on the mound as she pitched the distance fanning seven batters.
SIU, now 6-5, will return to pool play in the NIST Friday when the Salukis face UC-Santa Barbara at 4 p.m., followed by Iowa at 6 p.m.
