Southern Illinois University
33-10, 11-4
Wichita St.
28-18, 12-5
Softball Falls 2-1 To Wichita State, Splits Doubleheader
04/17/2004 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 17, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
WICHITA, Kans. - Wichita State (28-18, 12-5 MVC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead and allowed Southern Illinois (33- 10, 11-4 MVC) just three hits in a 2-1 win on Saturday at Wilkins Stadium. The Saluki loss gave the Shockers a split of the MVC doubleheader between the league's top two teams, with SIU holding a percentage points lead.
"We had our opportunities a couple times and were tentative at the plate in the second game. We took too many pitches and were not aggressive. We have to be mean and get after it every game. Our pitching did a good job holding them to two runs," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
Wichita State's Tawnya Guthrie hit a solo home run in the second inning off SIU starter Cassidy Scoggins to take a 1-0 lead. The Shockers singled three straight times in the third inning with one out to chase Scoggins.
Alison Thompson came on in relief and forced a fly ball to leftfield by Guthrie, which drove in a run for a 2-0 WSU lead.
The Salukis finally scored in the fifth inning. With one out, Lindsey Bonnell reached on a bunt single. Jenny Doehring singled up the middle and SIU had runners on first and second. Samantha Carter singled to leftfield and Bonnell scored to cut the lead to 2-1. Shocker starter Margo Pruis struck out Katie Jordan and forced Haley Viefhaus to pop out to end the threat.
SIU tried to tie it up in the seventh with Bonnell on second and two outs, but Carter popped out to end the game.
Scoggins allowed four hits, a walk and two runs in 2.1 innings, her shortest start of the year. She had four strikeouts in her first MVC loss (5-1) of the year. Thompson finished the final 4.2 innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
WSU's Pruis (10-3) struck out seven and allowed three hits, five walks and one run.
Carter (1-for-4, RBI), Bonnell (1-for-1, run) and Doehring (1-for-2) collected SIU's three hits.
The Salukis wrap up the series with a 12 p.m. finale on Sunday, with the winner holding first place in the MVC.
"We need to focus on winning the game on Sunday to win the series," added Blaylock.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pruis (10-3)
L: Scoggins (10-3)
Batting:
2B: Abbott 1
HR: Guthrie 1
RBI: Guthrie 2
SF: Guthrie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Scott 1 ; Guthrie 1
Batting:
RBI: Carter 1
SH: Doehring 1 ; Bonnell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bonnell 1
SB: Doehring 1
