Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 March 26, 2011
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball moved above the .500 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play Saturday with a sweep at Morehead State.
The Cougars improved to 12-17 overall and 4-3 in the OVC. SIUE collected wins of 7-3 and 4-3 over the Eagles, which fell to 9-20 and 3-5 in the OVC.
The two teams have one more game scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
SIUE Coach Sandy Montgomery said she was happy to see her team above .500 in league play but now the goal will be to get the team above .500 overall as well.
Erika Taylor and Lindsey Coleman earned pitching victories Saturday. Taylor improved to 9-8 overall while Coleman is now 2-1 with her first OVC victory.
"They made some quality pitches when they need to," said Montgomery.
SIUE's bats also were timely.
Taylor Tooley launched her fourth home run of the year, a solo blast in the fourth inning that put the Cougars ahead 2-1.
SIUE's fifth inning turned into a five-run rally. Chelsea Yankolovich picked up a one-out walk off Morehead State starter Kelcie McMurray. After Samantha Stanicek reached on a fielder's choice in which neither runner was thrown out, freshman Rachel Coonrod singled home Yankolovich.
Tooley would draw an intentional walk to load the bases, leaving it up to Brianna Fulginiti. She would get one run home with a sacrifice fly to center. The sparks flew for the next two batters as Kasey Schlafke doubled home two runs. Whitney Davis followed that up with an RBI double of her to the gap in left-center.
That would be enough for Taylor, who struck out nine batters. Taylor allowed 10 hits but kept the Eagles puzzled as 11 Morehead State runners were left on base.
In the nightcap, Coleman earned the complete-game victory by striking out seven.
Coonrod picked up the big hit for the Cougars in the fifth inning. Tied 2-2, Coonrod singled to right-center to score Yankolovich and Paige Sheeder. Morehead State would add a run in the bottom of the fifth but the Cougars would hold on and have now won five of their last six games.
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