Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 April 28, 2010
ST. LOUIS - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball came within one run in both games of a doubleheader Wednesday but dropped a pair of games to Saint Louis 1-0 and 5-4 at the Billiken Sports Center.
SIUE, 27-23, completes in its 2010 season finale Thursday with a 4 p.m. game against SIU Carbondale at Cougar Field. It will be Senior Day for the Cougars with the final home game for seniors Lauren Zembruski and Chaleen Rumpf.
"We want to come out and compete. We want to put together a good performance," said SIUE Head Coach Montgomery.
On Wednesday, the Cougars came close twice but couldn't push past the 26-21-1 Billikens.
In game one, SLU hurler Hannah Huebbe tossed a two-hit shutout. Despite a pair of singles from Megan Murphy and Kasey Schlafke, Huebbe also gave up six walks and hit a batter. SIUE had the bases loaded in the sixth inning and went scoreless.
"We had several opportunities. We just couldn't capitalize," said Montgomery. SIUE stranded seven runners.
Brittney Schmidt's solo home run in the third inning provided the only offense for the Billikens. Erika Taylor, 19-14, took the loss for the Cougars.
In the nightcap, SLU opened up the game with a four-run rally in the first inning. The Cougars continued to chip away at the lead with single tallies in the second, fourth and fifth innings.
SIUE tied the game 4-4 in the sixth. Samantha Stanicek opened the inning with a base hit. After Brianna Fulginiti was inserted into the lineup as a pinch-runner, Schlafke successfully sacrificed her to second. One out later, Taylor Tooley blasted a well-hit double to score Fulginiti.
"Taylor came up with a huge double. That was a clutch hit for her," said Montgomery.
In the bottom of the sixth, Nicki Jost collected the first leadoff hit for the Billikens since the first inning against SIUE starter Ali Downing, 8-9. She moved to second on a stolen base and later scored on a single by Schmidt.
Huebbe, 14-9, also was the winning pitcher in game two after throwing three innings of relief.
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