Cougars Collect 40th Win of the Season

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

April 29, 2009

         EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- No one could have scripted a better ending to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball's first season of Division I softball.
         Kasey Schlafke belted a three-run home run to left field in the bottom of the sixth of the nightcap as SIUE swept Saint Louis University. SIUE won the opener 2-0 and then were victorious 8-0 in six innings in game two.
         SIUE completed its season with a 40-10 record, a lofty mark for a team playing its first Division I schedule. The Cougars, which have a Division I Rating Percentage Index (RPI) of 47, are not eligible to compete for a 10th consecutive year in the NCAA Tournament because of the university's transition to NCAA Division I.
         "It makes me speechless because these kids played hard. I couldn't be more proud of them," said SIUE coach Sandy Montgomery.
         The Cougars won their final six games of the season, the last four as shutouts.
         Saint Louis, 21-29, could find its groove against game one starter Kaitlin Colosimo or game two starter Erika Taylor.
         Colosimo fanned nine in game one to run her record to 19-4. Montgomery sent Colosimo back out to pitch the top of the sixth inning of game two to make sure the senior spent her final out in the pitcher's circle.
         Schlafke, a sophomore shortstop, put SIUE up 1-0 in game one with an RBI single in the third inning. Whitney Davis, a freshman first baseman, added an RBI single in the fourth.
         In game two, Schlafke's blast ended the game suddenly in the sixth. SIUE rapped 10 hits in the game. Davis and freshman catcher Paige Sheeder added two RBIs each for the Cougars.
         Taylor, who pitched five strong innings, earned her 17th win of the season. She allowed just two hits and struck out three.
         "I can't say enough about the pitching," said Montgomery.
         Montgomery also complemented her five seniors -- Colosimo, Lindsay Longfellow, Nicole Beecher, Courtney Mall and Amanda Pucel.
         "They really stepped up all year. I let them take over and lead the team," said Montgomery. "They wanted to leave a legacy in our first season of Division I."
                  -siue cougars-

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Players Mentioned

#18 Nicole Beecher: OF; 5' 9"; Senior

#34 Kaitlin Colosimo: P; 5' 5"; Senior

#15 Whitney Davis: 1B/UT; 5' 8"; Freshman

#8 Lindsay Longfellow: 2B; 5' 4"; Senior

#6 Courtney Mall: OF; 5' 5"; Senior

#24 Amanda Pucel: UT; 5' 5"; Senior

#11 Kasey Schlafke: SS; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#2 Paige Sheeder: C/UT; 5' 9"; Freshman

#3 Erika Taylor: P; 5' 7"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#18 Nicole Beecher
: 5' 9"; Senior
: OF

#34 Kaitlin Colosimo
: 5' 5"; Senior
: P

#15 Whitney Davis
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: 1B/UT

#8 Lindsay Longfellow
: 5' 4"; Senior
: 2B

#6 Courtney Mall
: 5' 5"; Senior
: OF

#24 Amanda Pucel
: 5' 5"; Senior
: UT

#11 Kasey Schlafke
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: SS

#2 Paige Sheeder
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: C/UT

#3 Erika Taylor
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: P