Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Looks to Regroup this Weekend at Southwest Missouri State
04/05/2002 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 5, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - After losing back-to-back games when holding a lead of two or more runs, Southern Illinois (19-11, 6-3) will look to regroup this weekend when it visits Southwest Missouri State (15-13, 5-4) for a three-game series on Saturday-Sunday, April 6-7.
The three-game set will begin with a noon doubleheader tomorrow before concluding with a single game at noon on Sunday.
SIU has lost three games over a five-day period, and as a result, has gone from being tied for first to sole possession of third place in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Coming off a recent 3-2 loss to Evansville on Wednesday, the third place Salukis head into the weekend spearheaded by freshman Katie Jordan who is batting .282 with a pair of doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and a league-leading 17 runs. She is followed by senior Elissa Hopkins who is batting .265 with two doubles, two triples and six RBI. In addition, Hopkins posted her first hit against the Purple Aces since being cleared to play after missing nearly a month due to a spiral fracture in her left pinky.
Meanwhile, fourth-place SMS has fallen in five of its last seven games, including a recent 11-0 loss to Nebraska (4/1). Standing at 5-4 against league foes, the Lady Bears currently lead the league with 22 home runs. Batting an impressive .260 as a squad, SMS is led by junior right fielder Amanda Bean. Bean (.369), who has posted 24 hits, 15 runs and 10 RBI this season, is one of four Lady Bears batting .324 or better.
SIU trails 31-20 in its all-time series against SMS which dates back to 1978. Last season, the Salukis took two of three games from the Lady Bears on April 13-14 in Carbondale.
