April 6, 2010

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE softball ran its winning streak to seven games Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep over IUPUI.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 22-16, defeated the Jaguars 9-3 and 8-0 in six innings. The Jaguars dropped to 7-26. The Cougars now have a week off before No. 7-ranked Missouri makes its way to Cougar Field for a makeup doubleheader from an earlier rainout. Game time is 3 p.m.

On a windy day at Cougar Field, SIUE Coach Sandy Montgomery said the wind really wasn't a factor despite home runs from Chaleen Rumpf, Samantha Stanicek, and Brianna Fulginiti.

"The balls we hit, I think, would have gone out anyway," Montgomery said.

SIUE found itself down in game one 3-1 in the fourth. One of the IUPUI runs was a home run by Mia Ettl, who pulled the ball down the right field line. The Cougars would mount their comeback in the fourth.

Kasey Schlafke singled with two outs. Taylor Tooley followed up with a first-pitch single of her own. Stanicek, who was pinch-hitting for Kay Hagelberg, loaded the bases as she was hit by a pitch. Rumpf then unleashed on a 2-2 pitch from IUPUI starter Samantha Bumbaugh for a grand slam. It was the Cougar senior's first home run of the season and the second grand slam of her collegiate career.

"That was huge in the first game. We were not playing well. We were not pitching well. And we were not hitting well," said Montgomery. "That was a monster home run to get us in front. Obviously, we didn't look back after that."

SIUE tallied four more runs in the sixth. Megan Murphy tripled home two runs, and Laurie Siebert singled home two more.

"I thought that we really made adjustments with their pitching staff and hit the ball well," said Montgomery.

Erika Taylor notched her 16th win of the season and struck out three while scattering seven hits.

In game two, Ali Downing tossed her second straight shutout as SIUE won it in six innings.

"Ali threw the ball well today. She was hitting her spots very well and kept them off-balance," Montgomery said. Downing, 6-6, would tie her season high with eight strikeouts while winning her fourth straight outing.

The Cougars collected 12 hits against the Jaguars in the second game.

Stanicek and Fulginiti hit back-to-back home runs for the Cougars to lead off the fourth inning. Lindsey Barron, who stole two bases in game two, would join Stanicek and Fulginiti with two hits each.

The Cougars would hit IUPUI starter Amy Raker, 3-3, for seven hits before Bumbaugh returned to pitch the final 2 1/3 innings.

SIUE completed the shutout win in the sixth when Lauren Zembruski doubled down the left-field line to drive home Barron from second.

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