Southern Illinois University
2-1
Massachusetts
2-1
Softball defeats No. 20/25 UMass at Combat Classic
02/13/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 13, 2010
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
MIAMI, Fla. - Southern Illinois split day two of the Combat Classic with a run-ruled win over No. 20/25 UMass and a loss against FIU.
The Salukis (2-2) opened their second day of play at the Combat Classic with a dramatic run-ruled win over No. 20/25 UMass, their first ranked opponent of the season. The Salukis scored 12 runs off six hits to the Minutewomen's two runs, sending them home after five innings.
Coming off an impressive win over UMass, the Salukis went on to face FIU on its home field in the Golden Panthers first game of the season. A powerful FIU offense battled against the SIU, recording a school record four homeruns. The Salukis could not answer to the Golden Panthers offense, falling 10-6.
Southern Illinois 12 UMass 2
UMass came out on top with a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Southern Illinois would not trail for long.
The Saluki offense battled back in the bottom of the first inning with a bases loaded double by Natalee Weissinger to give SIU a 3-1 lead early in the game.
An impressive second inning put four more runs on the board for the Salukis. Chelsea Held got things started with a leadoff walk, followed by a single to left field from Cristina Trapani. Sophomore shortstop Haley Gorman walked to load the bases with no outs. Back-to-back walks for pitcher Bailey Sanders put freshman outfielder Morgan Barchan on base, bringing in another run for SIU.
Garza drove a single up the middle for a two run RBI from the senior second baseman, Gorman and Ebstein scored. Two more walks put Natalee Weissinger and Corinna Gonzalez on base and a 7-1 lead on the board for the Salukis. SIU went on to score four more runs in the third inning.
Trapani extended Southern's lead, scoring on a wild pitch in the fourth inning to give the Salukis a ten-run lead on the Minutewomen, 12-2. Barchan made a diving catch in right field, making the final play of the game giving the Salukis the win over nationally ranked UMass.
Danielle Glosson (2-0) earned the win, striking out two batters at the plate. Garza went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs and one RBI, while Junior third baseman Natalee Weissinger tallied three RBI, going 1-for-2 from the plate.
FIU 10 Southern Illinois 6
The Salukis carried the momentum into their second game of the day against FIU. Wilson hit a single down the middle to drive in Gorman, grabbing an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
FIU answered in the bottom of the first with a two-run homerun from Jenny Welch, followed by a solo homerun by Brie Rojas to put the Golden Panthers up 3-1.
In the top of the third inning, a shot to left field from Garza loaded the bases with no outs. Wilson reached first base on an error by Golden Panther center fielder, Beth Peller, bringing in one run. Weissinger walked to load the bases once again, trailing 3-2 the Salukis looked to gain ground. Freshman Michelle Bradley singled down the right field line, driving in a run to earn her first career RBI tying the game, 3-3. Sophomore outfielder Mallory Duran stepped up to the plate and drove in Wilson, for the 4-3 lead. The third inning saw two more runs for the Salukis, as they gained a comfortable 6-3 lead.
The Golden Panthers' offense came alive in the bottom of the third inning, scoring three runs, including two homeruns to tie the game, 6-6.
Glosson took the mound in the third inning, relieving Alex Peters who pitched two innings and struck out two batters.
FIU put two more runs on the board to take an 8-6 lead over Southern Illinois in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Golden Panthers' fifth homerun of game came in the fifth inning, a two -run homerun from freshman Kayla Burri, putting FIU up 10-6.
The Salukis fell to the Golden Panthers with a final score, 10-6.
SIU moves to 2-2 on the season and will wrap up play at the Combat Classic Sunday morning against Providence at 9 a.m. ET.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Glosson, Danielle (2-0)
L: SANDERS, Bailey (1-1)
Batting:
2B: CARTA, Meghan 1
RBI: SERIO, Jessica 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MAGILL, Kyllie 1 ; REEVES, Sarah 1
SB: MAGILL, Kyllie 1
Batting:
2B: Weissinger, Natalee 1
RBI: Barchan, Morgan 1 ; Garza, Alicia 2 ; Wilson, Katie 1 ; Weissinger, Natalee 3 ; Gonzalez, Corinna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gorman, Haley 2 ; Barchan, Morgan 2 ; Garza, Alicia 3 ; Hanson, Allie 2 ; HELD, Chelsea 1 ; Trapani, Cristina 1 ; Ebstein, Jenene 1
HBP: Gonzalez, Corinna 1
