March 8, 2011

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Kasey Schlafke's home run was the highlight of the doubleheader for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball as Western Kentucky won a pair of home games over the Cougars.

WKU, 13-5 and winners of 10 of its last 11 games, defeated SIUE 4-0 in the opener and 7-2 in the nightcap.

SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said despite outhitting WKU in the second game 8-7 the Cougars are not playing to their potential.

"We're not hitting to our capabilities. We're going to get it worked out and start moving forward," said Montgomery. "I'm very confident that will happen."

Schlafke's home run came with Taylor Tooley on base in the sixth inning of the second game. SIUE loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with three straight singles from Ellese Lawrence, Kayla Riggs and Whitney Davis but did not score.

"We made some noise in the last inning," said Montgomery. "We put ourselves in position to come back."

The Hilltoppers used the long ball to push past SIUE. Kelsie Mattox hit a grand slam in the third inning. Ciara Garcia and Laura Smith also delivered solo home runs for WKU.

Ali Downing, 1-5, was the losing pitcher for the Cougars. She struck out five in three innings. Lindsey Coleman threw the final three innings and allowed just one hit while striking out two.

In Tuesday's opener, WKU pitcher Kim Wagner tossed a three-hit shutout. Tooley ripped a pair of doubles while Brianna Fulginiti added the only other hit for the Cougars.

Garcia had three hits and drove home a pair of runs for WKU in the opener. SIUE pitcher Erika Taylor, now 4-7, took the loss.

The Cougars, 6-13 overall, now head to Nashville, Tenn., for its final two games on this road trip. SIUE plays Belmont Wednesday in a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader. After the doubleheader, SIUE will return home for a three-game series against Ohio Valley Conference rival Southeast Missouri Saturday and Sunday.

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