Southern Illinois University
10-6
Western Illinois
8-3
Softball splits day one of Coach B. Classic
03/06/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 6, 2010
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team split on day one of the Coach B. Classic at Charlotte West Stadium. The Salukis fell to Western Illinois, 2-1, in their first home game of the season, going on to defeat Kansas, 3-1 in the second game of the day.
SIU couldn't seem to find an offensive flow against Western Illinois, scoring only one run and allowing two home runs from the Fighting Leathernecks. SIU would gain ground later in the day, as Brittney Lang earned her second win of the season, allowing only one run against Kansas for a 3-1 victory.
Western Illinois 2, Southern Illinois 1
The Salukis were unable to hold off the Fighting Leathernecks, as they fell 2-1 in their first contest at the Coach B. Classic.
Western Illinois' Julie DePolo hit a single home run shot over the left field fence to give the Leathernecks an early 1-0 lead.
The Salukis answered in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Allie Hanson, driving in Alicia Garza to tie the game. SIU attempted to take the lead in the top of the seventh, with Corinna Gonzalez and Chelsea Held both getting on base. With two runners on, Garza struck out as the Salukis slipped out of the inning with no runs.
The Leathernecks went on to score in the bottom of the seventh with a walk off home run from Beth Golitko to end the game, 2-1.
Junior Alex Peters pitched a complete game striking out four batters, allowing only one walk and four hits. Peters moved to 4-2 on the season, after winning her last four starts.
The Leathernecks improved to 8-3, while the Salukis dropped to 10-6 after game one at the Coach B. Classic.
"Only getting one run off Western Illinois cost us the game," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We have to come out tomorrow and swing the bat a little bit better, we should be hitting the ball better at this stage."
Southern Illinois 3, Kansas 1
Southern Illinois earned their first home win of the season against Big 12 opponent, Kansas. The Salukis scored all three of their runs in the second inning for a 3-1 final.
Center fielder Chelsea Held reached on a walk, to bring Allie Hanson to the plate. Hanson hit a two-run shot over the right field wall for her second home run of the season and a 2-0 lead for the Salukis.
Natalee Weissinger doubled to center field, followed by a stolen base to occupy third. An error by the Jawhawks would allow Weissinger to score, giving SIU a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Kansas would remain quiet until the top of the seventh inning, putting one run on the board to avoid a shutout.
Freshman Brittany Lang (2-0) had an impressive outing striking out a career-high eight batters, allowing only one run off three hits.
"We had two good pitching performances today," Blaylock said. "Brittany Lang threw a really good game against and offensively Allie Hanson did her job."
The Coach B. Classic will continue tomorrow with the final five games of the tournament. SIU will take the field at 3 p.m. with a matchup against UIC, followed by a 5 p.m. game against SIU-Edwardsville.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kamren Ferguson (4-2)
L: Peters, Alex (4-2)
Batting:
RBI: Hanson, Allie 1
SH: Weissinger, Natalee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Garza, Alicia 1
SB: Kennedy, Courtney 1
Batting:
3B: Julie DePolo 1
HR: Julie DePolo 1 ; Beth Golitko 1
RBI: Julie DePolo 1 ; Beth Golitko 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Julie DePolo 1 ; Beth Golitko 1
CS: Lauren Furgala 1
HBP: Lauren Furgala 1
