Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Feb. 11, 2011
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Ali Downing tossed a four-hit shutout against Drexel Friday as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville gained a split on opening day at the Hampton Inn Invitational.
SIUE was defeated 4-2 in eight innings by Virginia and blanked Drexel 3-0.
SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said she was pleased with the team's opening-day performance.
"We played error-free all day. There were ups and down on offense. We swung the bat well in spurts," said Montgomery.
In the day's second game, Downing struck out five and did not walk a batter in her season debut against the Dragons, who were playing their first game of the season.
Kasey Schlafke opened the scoring in the second inning. She doubled to right center and moved to third base on a single by Taylor Tooley. As Tooley stole second, Schlafke scored on a throwing error by Drexel catcher Paige Collings. Megan Murphy then singled home Tooley to put SIUE up 2-0.
SIUE added an insurance run in the third inning as Murphy scored on a wild pitch in the third inning after ripping a leadoff double.
In the opener against Virginia, it was a pitcher's duel between SIUE's Erika Taylor and Virginia's Melanie Mitchell. The two teams went to the international tiebreaker tied 1-1. The Cavaliers would garner a bases-loaded triple by Taylor Williams in the top of the eighth to edge the Cougars.
SIUE had the lead in the second inning when Taylor Tooley drew a one-out walk. After a single by Laurie Siebert, Murphy doubled home Tooley.
Montgomery said SIUE had its opportunities to score more, but eight runners left on base for the game left the door open for the Cavaliers.
"It came down to Virginia got the timely hit and we didn't," said Montgomery.
SIUE faces host Campbell University Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET. After the conclusion of that game, SIUE will play one more contest, either a third place game at 4 p.m.ET or the tournament championship game at 6:30 p.m. ET.
"I was happy with our performance and poise. We really didn't get rattled," said Montgomery.
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