Southern Illinois University
1-0
Marshall (Triple Crown Invitational)
1-0
Softball Falls To Marshall 5-0 In Season Opener
02/06/2004 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 6, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - #24 Southern Illinois University (0-1) committed an uncharacteristic eight errors, leading to a season opening 5-0 loss to Marshall (1-0) at the Triple Crown Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla. on Friday. The Salukis led the Valley and finished 26th in the nation in 2003 with a .969 fielding percentage. Three of the Thundering Herd's five runs were unearned.
"We were bad in a four phases on the game ... our pitching, fielding, hitting and baserunner were bad," said SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock. "I don't know why we didn't play well. We were well prepared for the season opener."
Marshall scored a five runs in an error-filled fifth inning. The Salukis walked three batters, made four errors and threw a wild pitch in addition to Marshall's only two hits of the game.
Amy Harre started the game and was relieved by Alison Thompson in the third inning with the bases loaded. Thompson (0-1) struck out two batters and popped up a third to keep the game scoreless, until the fifth inning problems.
SIU loaded the bases in the first inning, but failed to score with two outs. In the second, with the bases loaded again, Lauren Roney was thrown out at the plate in SIU's best chance to score.
Marshall's Randi Nielson (1-0) went the distance with six strikeouts and allowed four SIU hits and two walks. The Salukis face Bethune-Cookman in its second game of the year at the Triple Crown Invitational at 10:30 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: NIELSON, R. (1-0)
L: Thompson (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: WILLIAMS, A. 1 ; GUZZO, G. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WILLIAMS, J. 1 ; DAVENPORT, S 1 ; WILLIAMS, A. 1 ; ADAMS, N. 1 ; JONES, J. 1
SB: WILLIAMS, A. 2
CS: WILLIAMS, J. 1
HBP: GUZZO, G. 1
Batting:
2B: Doehring 1
Base Running:
CS: Andrews 1
HBP: Creek 1
