Box Score March 27, 2011
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Erika Taylor struck out a career-high 14 batters Sunday as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville downed Morehead State 7-2 in the softball series finale.
SIUE, now 13-17 overall and 5-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference, swept its first league series of the season. Morehead State fell to 9-21 overall and 3-6 in the OVC.
It was all or nothing for Taylor, the senior right-hander. While striking out 14, she also gave up 10 hits. Morehead State stranded 14 runners.
"We're happy with the result," said SIUE Head Coach Montgomery. "It's good because we're in a better place mentally than we have been.
The Cougars were able to collect key hits and take advantage of Morehead State missteps.
SIUE broke a scoreless tie in the third inning as Lindsey Barron opened the frame with a single. Chelsea Yankolovich followed with a double to the gap in left field. Her hit drove home Barron. After two quick outs, the Cougars took advantage of two infield errors by Stephanie Etter to score two more runs and take a 3-0 lead.
Morehead State fought back in the bottom half of the inning. Brooke McCartney drew a one-out walk and then scored on a home run by Kayla Ashbrook, her fourth of the season.
Ahead 3-2, SIUE had a quick answer. Kasey Schlafke launched her third home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning. SIUE would score once more in the inning as Rachel Coonrod drew a bases-loaded walk.
"The home run was huge because it was in response to what had just happened in the previous inning," added Montgomery.
SIUE would score two runs more in the top of the seventh. The first was on a sacrifice squeeze by Schlafke and an RBI single by Whitney Davis. Montgomery welcomed the clutch hitting.
"That was something we had been lacking earlier this season," Montgomery said.
SIUE now looks to Wednesday when it entertains Eastern Illinois in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Cougar Field. EIU completed a sweep of Tennessee State this weekend and remains the only team in the OVC without an OVC loss.
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