Southern Illinois University
vs. Nebraska (Florida State Invite)
Softball Falls Victim to No. 4 Nebraska, 4-1
03/09/2002 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 9, 2002
Tallahassee, Fla. - Junior center fielder Kim Ogee went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI to lead No. 4 Nebraska (15-5) to a 4-1 win over Southern Illinois (10-6) earlier tonight in playoff action at the Florida State Seminole Invitational.
Nebraska drew first blood when back-to-back infield singles by Ogee and Lisa Wangler put runners on early in the bottom of the first. Ogee, who stole second and advanced to third following Wangler's hit, then came home on a sacrifice fly by Nicole Trimboli which gave the Huskers a 1-0 lead.
Peaches James, who was named first-team all-Big 12 last season, calmly retired SIU's first six batters, and as a result, sent the Cornhuskers to the plate with added momentum in the bottom of the second.
Amanda Bucholz led off the Nebraska at-bat with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. Cindy Roethemeyer blooped a single to left center moving Bucholz to third. With no outs and runners on the corners, Liz Lawhorn struck a single to center which scored Bucholz. Another single by Ogee then drove in Roethemeyer to expand the Husker lead to 3-0.
In what appeared as if James was way in control of the game, Saluki catcher Karrie Fortman stepped up in the top of the third and ripped a single to center which spoiled James' no-hit bid. Following Fortman's hit, Jen Guenther followed with a single to right and went to second on a throw courtesy of Lawhorn whose intent was to gun down Fortman at third. Fortman, however, was called safe and the Dawgs were in business with one away. Guenther's hit marked just her second in the Salukis' last 10 games.
With runners on second and third, Kendra Moore then drove one deep enough to right field which allowed Fortman to score on the sacrifice as SIU narrowed the Nebraska margin to 3-1.
After both teams came up empty in the fourth, Nebraska rallied again in the bottom of the fifth as Amber Burgess scored on a wild pitch to cap off the 4-1 win. Burgess, who reached on a fielder's choice, went to third on a single by James before scoring.
James went the distance for the Huskers to move to 9-3 on the season. She struck out seven batters, while allowing just four hits.
Katie Kloess suffered her first loss of the season falling to 3-1 on the year. Kloess pitched 4.2 innings giving up six hits to go along with four earned runs.
Fortman scored SIU's only run of the game as she was one of four Salukis that scattered one hit apiece. Saafir, Damico and Guenther were the other three.
SIU's loss to Nebraska marked the second to a top-25 opponent this season. The Salukis also fell to No. 21 Florida Atlantic on Feb. 23-24.
