Southern Illinois University
14-9
Fairfield
7-8
Softball shuts down Fairfield, snaps three-game losing streak
03/14/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 14, 2010
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Southern Illinois Softball team snapped a three-game losing streak, with a 13-0, run-ruled win over Fairfield on Sunday. The Salukis scored 13 runs off 11 hits in their deciding five-inning win over the Stags.
The Salukis (14-9) came out strong in the top of the first, gaining an early 2-0 lead over Fairfield (7-7). Morgan Barchan led off the inning with a shot out to deep center field for her first career double. A sacrifice bunt from Mallory Duran advanced Barchan to third, brining Alicia Garza up to the plate. Garzas' RBI double drove in Barchan for a 1-0 lead with only one out. The senior second baseman stole second, and continued home on the throw, grabbing the 2-0 lead.
Brittney Lang got the start for the Salukis, but was relieved by Alex Peters in the bottom of the first, after walking Allison Ritacco to load the bases. Entering the inning with one out, Peters struck out the next two batters to get SIU out of a bases-loaded situation, holding on to a 2-0 lead.
Katie Wilson started the second inning with a single, followed by a stolen base to take second, then reached third on a wild pitch. Chelsea Held drew a walk, and grabbed the team's third stolen base of the day to get on second. Courtney Kennedy singled down the left side, driving in Wilson to put another run on the board for SIU. The sophomore third baseman has earned a hit in four of the last five games. SIU ended the second inning with a 3-0 lead. Peters struck out the first three at the plate in the bottom of the inning, keeping the Stags silent.
SIU would continue the scoring trend in the top of the third, as Duran led off with a walk. Natalee Weissinger was hit by the pitch from Kelli Panter, advancing Duran to second. Cristina Trapani took her base, drawing yet another walk from Panter, to load the bases. Wilson stepped up to the plate, earning her fourth home run of the season with a grand slam for a 7-0 lead. The scoring did not stop there, as SIU continued to score four more runs throughout the inning.
Back-to-back singles from Corinna Gonzalez and Alicia Junker followed by an error by third baseman Allison Wigand loaded the bases for the second time in the inning. Barchan would reach first on a fielder's choice, as Gonzalez is called out in a close play at the plate. The bases remain loaded for Duran's RBI double, driving in two more runs for a 9-0 lead. Garza earned her second double and third RBI of the game, as she drove in two more runs for the Salukis, giving them an 11-0 lead.
The Salukis refused to let up, scoring two more runs in the top of the fourth for a dominating 13-0 lead over the Stags. Both teams would remain quiet through the final inning, giving the Salukis a deciding 13-0 win in five innings. The victory marks SIU's fourth run-ruled win of the season.
Garza had a stellar performance against Fairfield, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run. The senior second baseman tallied two doubles and two stolen bases on the day. Peters displayed an impressive performance as well, striking out a career-high 10 batters in 4.2 innings pitched. The junior pitched a near perfect game, allowing only two hits, no runs and no errors.
The Salukis will return home this week as they begin conference play with a mid-week matchup against Evansville. SIU will host the Purple Aces, Wednesday, March 17 in a double-header beginning at 3 p.m. SIU will turn around to host non-conference opponent, Iowa State, on Thursday with a single game at 3 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Peters, Alex (6-3)
L: ORR, Emily (0-0)
Batting:
2B: Barchan, Morgan 1 ; Duran, Mallory 1 ; Garza, Alicia 2 ; Wilson, Katie 1
HR: Wilson, Katie 1
RBI: Duran, Mallory 2 ; Garza, Alicia 3 ; Wilson, Katie 5 ; Kennedy, Courtney 1
SH: Duran, Mallory 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barchan, Morgan 2 ; Duran, Mallory 2 ; Garza, Alicia 1 ; Weissinger, Natalee 1 ; Ebstein, Jenene 1 ; Shelton, Sydney 1 ; Wilson, Katie 3 ; Junker, Alicia 1 ; Kennedy, Courtney 1
SB: Duran, Mallory 1 ; Garza, Alicia 2 ; Wilson, Katie 1 ; HELD, Chelsea 1
HBP: Weissinger, Natalee 1
Batting:
SH: GRISWOLD, Dani 1
Base Running:
HBP: RITACCO, Allison 1
