March 6, 2011

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball dropped a pair of games Sunday at the Coach B Classic, hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

"We did some good things today," SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "We made some adjustments late. We played pretty good defense."

In game one, Kentucky third baseman Brittany Cervantes connected on a 2-2 pitch from ErikaTaylor to straight away center to put the Wildcats up 1-0. UK pitcher Lauren Cumbess then helped herself, leading off the fifth inning with a home run to left field to make it 2-0.

Taylor (4-6) picked up her eighth complete game despite the loss. She struck out six and walked two.

SIUE, 6-11, managed just three hits against Kentucky right-hander Lauren Cumbress. Chelsea Yankolovich, Lindsey Barron and Taylor Tooley each had a single hit for the Cougars in the loss.

Cumbress (2-0) allowed the three hits and struck out 10 in the victory.

SIUE faired only slightly better against Wright State right-hander Krystian DeWitt (3-4).

DeWitt allowed two runs, one earned, on seven Cougar hits. She struck out three.

The Cougars loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jill Rackers, pinch-hitting, walked to start the inning. Brianna Fulginiti then singled to right field. Megan Murphy and Lindsey Barron both grounded out, before Schlafke walked. Rachel Coonrod hit a line drive toward right that hit Schlafke leaving from first to end the game.

SIUE got out to a quick start in its second game of the day. Lindsey Barron reached on an error to start the game, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kasey Schlafke. Whitney Davis drove Barron in with a two-out hit to center field. Davis finished 1 for 3 with the RBI.

Wright State, 5-6, scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. The Raiders loaded the bases were three consecutive singles against Cougar starter Ali Downing, 1-4. WSU scored on a pair of one-out fielder's choices, neither of which resulted in an out. Downing got out of the inning, inducing a line-drive double play off the bat of third baseman Louie Haney.

Megan Murphy singled in Chelsea Yankolovich in the fourth to even the score, 2-2. Murphy was 1 for 3 with the RBI.

It stayed 2-2 until the sixth inning, when WSU broke it open. Justine Shilt was hit by a pitch with one out. Lindsay Barrett then walked. WSU designated player Kacie Rapshus sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Katie Kine then lined a pitch over the right field fence to put the Raiders up 5-2.

"We put ourselves in position to lose," Montgomery said. "It is the first time I felt like we gave a game away."

Downing (1-4) allowed all five runs on seven hits. She struck out two.

The Cougars stay on the road for a pair of double-headers this week. SIUE will face Western Kentucky Tuesday before playing at Belmont Wednesday.

"It's time someone take responsibility," Montgomery said. "Someone needs to step up and take this team over."