Southern Illinois University
Western Ky
Southern Illinois Sweeps Western Kentucky
05/01/2001 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 11, 2001
Southern Illinois University combined for 15 hits in two games en route to sweeping Western Kentucky in a doubleheader winning 9-1 (6) and 1-0 Wednesday in non-league action at IAW Fields.
SIU's 11 hits in the opening game of the twin bill marked a season high on the year as the Salukis surpassed their previous mark of 10 hits which was done against Mississippi State on February 17.
Southern Illinois had back-to-back big rallies in the first and second innings which accounted for three or more runs. In the bottom of the first, Western Kentucky pitcher Allison Silver struggled to find the strike zone, and as a result, walked the Salukis' first three batters to load the bases with no one out. Julie Meier then flied out to right to score Netty Hallahan before an Erin Stremsterfer single would score both Amanda Rexroat and Haley Viefhaus. Stremsterfer then came home on a Marta Viefhaus single as SIU took a quick 4-0 lead.
With one out in the bottom of the second, two more walks compliments of Silver put Tara Glasco and H. Viefhaus on base. While a passed ball would score Glasco, both Meier and Stremsterfer would single again to drive home H. Viefhaus and Rexroat to increase the margin to 7-0.
Back-to-back singles by Meier and Stremsterfer started the bottom of the sixth before a Elissa Hopkins double to right center brought home the final two runs to end the game at 9-1 in six innings.
Stremsterfer went a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to propel the Saluki attack Meier then followed with a 2-for-3 outing which included one run scored and one RBI. In addition to her impressive performance at the plate, Stremsterfer also picked up the win on the mound to move to 18-4 on the season. Stremsterfer struck out eight batters while allowing one earned run through six innings pitched.
A one-out triple to rightfield by Riley Garcia then gave Western Kentucky some firepower to start game two. Following a Jessie Richardson fly out to center, Garcia took off for home in attempt to give the Hilltoppers an early lead, but was tagged out at the plate on a perfect throw from Hopkins to catcher Karrie Fortman.
The Hilltoppers would threaten again in the top of the seventh when consecutive singles by Richardson and Veronica Giddens along with a walk to Angela Dunhour loaded the bases with two out. SIU hurler Katie Kloess then beared down to force a Laura King pop up to second which ended the rally.
SIU's Hopkins reached on an error by shortstop Melissa Gomes to begin the Saluki seventh. Chiara Calvetti was then hit by a pitch before a SAC bunt moved Hopkins to third and Calvetti to second. Pinch hitter Tahira Saafir was then intentionally walked to load the bases before a fielding error by first baseman Shanon Searle would allow the game-winning run to come home unearned as SIU clinched the 1-0 win.
Katie Kloess went the distance inside the circle to improve to 7-4 on the year. Kloess struck out eight batters on a four-hitter. Rexroat, Meier, and Hopkins then combined for SIU's silent three hits.
SIU, now 26-11, 10-3 on the year, will return to league action on Friday and Saturday, Apr. 13-14 when Southwest Missouri State comes to Carbondale. The Salukis will open the three-game series with the Bears with a single game (3 p.m.) on Friday before closing out with a doubleheader (Noon) on Saturday.
