Southern Illinois University
3-3
UNLV (UNLV Rebel Tournament)
7-4
Softball Loses To UNLV 6-2 At UNLV Invitational Tournament
02/20/2005 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 20, 2005
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Despite the first career home runs by freshmen Tiffanie Dismore and Chelsea Petty, Southern Illinois lost 6-2 to host UNLV (7-4) on Saturday at the UNLV Invitational Tournament at Eller Media Stadium.
"The freshmen hitting those two big home runs to get us close in the game was huge. I feel like we're learning some things and seeing some things that we'll need for the conference race," said Kerri Blaylock.
UNLV jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Salukis (3-3) with two unearned runs in the first inning and one run in the second inning against Saluki starter Cassidy Scoggins (1-1), who lasted 1.2 innings.
Scoggins allowed one earned run, three total runs and five hits with two strikeouts, before giving way to Ashley Hamby, who forced a groundout to end the second inning. Hamby allowed six hits, two walks and three runs in 4.1 innings of relief.
Dismore hit a solo home run to rightfield off UNLV's Jacque Kerrigan to lead off the fourth inning and cut the deficit to 4-1. Petty added a solo blast to leftfield with two outs in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 3-2.
UNLV battled back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 6-2 lead and put the game away.
"I don't think I've ever been at a tournament where I've ever seen the ball hit harder all day long," added Blaylock. "These are some very good teams. If we don't make a couple mistakes tonight we're right there. We have to play one game at a time and we have to be able to take a punch and give one back these next couple weeks against some good teams."
UNLV's Kerrigan (7-3) struck out eight, walked no one and allowed four Saluki hits and two earned runs in the win.
The game was delayed three hours and fifteen minutes due to rain, field conditions and a lightning delay. SIU finished play on Sunday morning at 1:40 a.m. CST.
Southern Illinois is scheduled to end the tournament on Sunday against #14 Florida at 11:00 a.m.
SIU's game with Florida will be live on Gametracker at www.siusalukis.com. The Southern Illinois game against Florida on Sunday will also be broadcast on www.gatorzone.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: KERRIGAN (7-3)
L: Scoggins, Cassidy (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Clifton, Amanda 1
HR: Dismore, Tiffanie 1 ; Petty, Chelsea 1
RBI: Dismore, Tiffanie 1 ; Petty, Chelsea 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dismore, Tiffanie 1 ; Petty, Chelsea 1
SB: Hamby, Ashley 1
Batting:
3B: NICHOLS 2
HR: PAUS 1
RBI: NICHOLS 1 ; FREIGHT 1 ; PAUS 2
SH: FREIGHT 1
Base Running:
RUNS: NICHOLS 2 ; FREIGHT 2 ; PAUS 1 ; JACKSON 1
SB: JACKSON 1
HBP: CRISP 1
