Softball Falls To Kansas 5-4 In Eight Innings

Saturday, March 5

Carbondale, Ill.

2:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

6-7

Kansas (Kay Brechtelsbauer Southern Classic)

9-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	7	2
Kansas	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	2	5	6	2

03/05/2005 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score

March 5, 2005

By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Despite home runs by SIU's Maria Damico and Katie Jordan, Kansas (9-7) scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to overcome a 4-3 deficit, and beat Southern Illinois 5-4 on Saturday at the Kay Brechtelsbauer Southern Classic.

The Salukis (6-7) jumped out to 2-0 and 3-1 leads early in the game, but made two crucial errors that led to two unearned runs by Kansas, eventually forcing extra innings.

"There's no question that if we don't make two errors, we win the ballgame in regulation. What's frustrating is that typically we've always been a good pitching and defensive team," said a frustrated Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.

"I was proud of the offense because we adjusted against their reliever and scored, but it was our defense that let us down. That's just a lack of focus. I just hope we're ready to play tomorrow and come out and get a couple big wins."

SIU took the lead 2-0 in the top of the first inning after leadoff hitter Tiffanie Dismore reached on an error and Damico hit her third home run of the season off KU starter Kassie Humphreys, who was pulled in the second inning for reliever Serena Settlemier.

Kansas cut the lead in to 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning following a single, a sacrifice, and an error on a sacrifice attempt allowed Ashley Frazer to score.

Jordan hit her second home run of the year and 27th of her career (3rd all-time in the MVC) with one out in the fifth inning for a 3-1 SIU advantage.

Southern's Ashley Hamby held the Jayhawks to just two hits without a walk and struck out two batters in the first five innings, but the Saluki defense provided KU's Destiny Frankenstein an opportunity to tie the game.

Cyndi Duran reached base on an error to open the inning and Frankenstein hit a two-run home run, her second of the day (vs. Ball State earlier), to tie the game at 3-3 and force Hamby from the game. Cassidy Scoggins came on for SIU and collected a strikeout, ground out and fly out to end the inning.

Settlemier and Scoggins each pitched scoreless seventh innings to send the game to an extra frame.

The Salukis scored in the top of the eighth inning when Lauren Roney, placed on second due to the international tiebreaker rule, was allowed to advance to third base on an illegal pitch by Settlemier after she was thrown out on a Scoggins sacrifice attempt.

Scoggins went back to the plate, but struck out and Amanda Clifton followed with a fly out to centerfield, before Katie Louis doubled to drive in Roney for a 4-3 SIU lead.

Kansas responded in their turn in the eighth inning. A bunt-single by Cyndi Duran and an RBI-single by Frankenstein tied the game at 4-4 when Jackie Vazquez scored after starting the inning on second base. After a sacrifice, Settlemier won the game for her self and her team with a single scoring Duran for a 5-4 victory.

KU's Settlemier (5-2) won the game in 6.2 innings of relief. She struck out six, walked one and allowed two runs and four hits. SIU's Scoggins (2-2) picked up the loss after allowing two runs and three hits with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief.

Stein went 2-for-3 for SIU and Dismore, Damico, Jordan and Louis each had one hit for the Salukis.

Southern Illinois will face Ball State at 12 p.m. and hope to meet Kansas in a rematch in the championship game at 4 p.m. between the top two seeds. The consolation game will be played at 2 p.m. between the third and fourth place seeds.