Southern Illinois University
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Texas A&M-CC Hands SIU Fourth Straight Loss
03/14/2001 | 12:00:00 | Softball
February 24, 2001
Las Cruces, N.M. -
Texas A&M Corpus Christi scored two runs in its first five at-bats of the game to fuel a 4-2 win over Southern Illinois University Carbondale Saturday morning in the 24th Annual Troy Cox Invitational at Presley Askew Field.
Shelly Oetken led off the top of the first inning with a single to right center and was moved to second on a sac bunt by Rachel Kitchens. After a groundout to second by Sarah Mesa, Katie Evans then stepped in and singled to left center knocking in Oetken. Following Oetken's hit, Rachel Mendez doubled to left to bring in Evans giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead.
Freshman Mary Jaszczak, who accounted for all three hits which included both earned runs, was then removed after throwing the quick two-thirds of the frame only to be replaced by Erin Stremsterfer who got the Dawgs out of the early jam.
With two out in the top of the second, another Oetken single followed by a fielding error by SIU shortstop Haley Viefhaus gave the Islanders two more baserunners that would soon cross the plate compliments of a two-error miscue by the Saluki defense. H. Viefhaus mishandled a hard-hit grounder by Mesa to put Oetken on third and Kitchens on second. Amanda Rexroat then fielded the ball in left,and in an attempt to gun down Oetken at third, threw wild allowing both runners to score unearned as Texas A&M-CC took a 4-0 lead.
The Salukis cut into the Islanders lead in the bottom of the second after Netty Hallahan reached on a walk with one out. H. Viefhaus then singled to right before a throwing error by Texas A&M-CC catcher Megan Rathkamp soared into center enabling Hallahan to score (4-1).
One more run in the bottom of the third compliments of a Marta Viefhaus sacrifice fly which scored Rexroat after having singled, then cut the lead to two, but that was all the Dawgs could muster as the Islanders went on to the 4-2 win.
Rexroat, Julie Meier, and M. Viefhaus led the Salukis offensively as each singled to combine for SIU's silent three hits. Jasczak, was given the loss on the hill falling to 0-2 on the year. Stremsterfer, who threw the final 6.1 innings in relief, struck out 10 batters while allowing four hits and two unearned runs.
SIU, now 1-4, will return to action in the Troy Cox Invitational against host New Mexico State later this afternoon.
