Softball falls to Blue Raiders at Middle Tennessee Classic

Sunday, February 24

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

11:00 AM

Southern Illinois University

9-4

Middle Tennessee State

4-7

Southern Illinois

Middle Tennessee

02/24/2008 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 24, 2008

By Ryan Shaw
www.siusalukis.com

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Southern Illinois University softball team dropped its second game of the weekend this morning with a 6-0 loss to Middle Tennessee State University.

With the loss the Salukis' record falls to 9-4. The Blue Raiders record moves to 4-7 on the year.

MTSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Martha Davis sent a Katie McNamara pitch over the left field fence in the bottom of the third.

The Salukis threatened in the top of the fourth when Chelsea Held reached on an error by catcher Katie Mielke. Held advanced to second on an Alicia Garza ground out and stole third base, but did not make it home before a Katie Wilson strike out ended the Salukis' at bat.

The Blue Raiders then added two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Brittney Banania sent a one-out double into left center. Banania scored when Corrie Abel doubled to right field. Nikki Waters replaced McNamara and was called for back-to-back illegal pitches, scoring Abel from second.

MTSU tacked on more runs in the bottom of the fifth when Whitney Darlington led off with a single and advanced to second on a Waters wild pitch. Darlington scored on a Martha Davis double. Waters then walked Caitlin McLure. Ashley Cline tripled into left center, scoring Davis and McLure.

With the loss, McNamara's record on the season drops to 4-1.

The Salukis will play the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks in the tournament consolation championship at 3 p.m.