Softball drops both games of doubleheader at Wichita State

Friday, March 21

Wichita, Kan.

6:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

15-13, 0

Wichita State

21-12, 0

Southern Illinois

Wichita State

03/21/2008 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

March 21, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

WICHITA, Kan. - The Southern Illinois softball team dropped both games of its doubleheader against Wichita State, 7-0, 3-0, Friday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium in Wichita, Kan. The Salukis were limited to just seven hits combined in the two games, and fell to 3-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

Wichita State (21-12, 3-2 MVC) senior right-handed pitcher, Ashly Bright, earned a complete-game shutout win in the first game, and picked up her fifth save of the season in the second contest.

Southern Illinois sophomore second baseman, Alicia Garza, picked up a pair of singles in game one, while senior first baseman Lauren Haas went 1-for-3 in both games.

The Salukis (15-13, 3-2 MVC) will look to pick-up a win in the series finale on Saturday at noon at Wilkins Stadium.

Game One - Southern Illinois 0 Wichita State 7
Wichita State opened an early lead, 1-0, in the bottom of the first off Saluki right-handed starter, Danielle Glosson.

WSU left fielder Katie McGeeney led-off with a bloop double into shallow left field, and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly, after moving to third on a sacrifice bunt.

From that point on, the Shockers never looked back.

Wichita State added to its one-run lead in the bottom of the second on a one-out, two-run single up the middle by Kiersten Dixon to put WSU up, 3-0, after two innings.

In the ensuing bottom of the third, WSU singled to lead-off, which sent SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock to the bullpen for junior left-hander Katie McNamara to face designated player Cynthia Verhulst.

Verhulst gave McNamara a harsh welcoming to the game, with a two-run home run, her sixth of the season, to right field, to increase the Shockers' lead, 5-0.

Once Wichita State gained the lead, starter Ashly Bright kept the Salukis from answering with any offensive momentum.

The Missouri Valley Conference strikeout leader retired five Salukis on strikes, while only allowing two hits in the first four innings. Sophomore second baseman Alicia Garza was the only SIU hitter to reach base off Bright, with a single in the first and fourth innings.

The Shockers scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single by shortstop, Britnee Barnett, to make the final, 7-0.

McNamara settled in to hold Wichita State scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, however the damage had already been done as the Saluki offense could not cut into the WSU lead in the final innings.

Southern Illinois had chances to push runs across in the fifth and sixth, with a runner in scoring position, but stranded junior outfielder Katie Schmidt at third in the top of the fifth, and Garza at third in the sixth.

Bright earned her 12th win of the season with eight strikeouts, while Glosson took the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in two innings.

Game Two - Southern Illinois 0 Wichita State 3
The Salukis and Shockers opened the second game with back-to-back scoreless innings before Wichita State struck first in the bottom of the third.

With two outs, and a runner on second base, shortstop Britnee Barnett hit an RBI-single to right field to put WSU up, 1-0.

Following another single, and an illegal pitch, Wichita State had runners on second and third for catcher Heather Gerritse.

Gerritse, who went 1-for-3 in the first game, came through with the third hit of the inning on a single into center field to drive in two more runs, and extend the Shockers' lead to 3-0.

Southern Illinois finally began to put the bat on the ball in the top of the fourth, however every time the Salukis make contact, the ball was hit right at the WSU fielders.

SIU made an attempt at a comeback in the top of the fifth, with two runners on base.

Junior outfielder Katie Schmidt started the rally with a two-out single, and advanced to second after freshman Chelsea Held drew a walk, but Wichita State immediately went to its bullpen for Ashly Bright, who earned the win in the first game.

The pitching change paid off for the Shockers, as the senior righthander retired pinch-hitter Allie Hanson to end the scoring opportunity.

Southern Illinois had one last chance in the top of the seventh inning with a runner on base and two outs, but Bright retired Schmidt on strikes to end the game.

Wichita State Freshman Brianna Smet earned her eighth win in 4 2/3 innings, while Saluki freshman starter Nikki Waters took the loss, despite only giving up three runs on five hits with four strikeouts.