Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 March 9, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Taylor Tooley's RBI single in the seventh inning proved to be a game winner for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball as the Cougars split a doubleheader at Belmont.
SIUE, 7-14, defeated the Bruins in game one 4-3 but dropped the nightcap 2-1 in eight innings.
"We started to hit the ball a little better. We're just not in a good place mentally right now," said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery.
Tooley's RBI single in game one came with the bases loaded. Lindsey Barron scored on the play. SIUE would have a 4-1 lead heading into the seventh. The Cougars would give up two runs in the bottom of the seventh and hold on.
Samantha Stanicek was the lone Cougar to have two hits in the first game. She doubled home Tooley and later scored in the fourth inning.
The Cougars left eight runners on base in the first game. Montgomery said the team hasn't been getting the breaks it needs to be successful offensively.
"We have to make our own breaks," she said.
Erika Taylor ran her record to 5-7 in game one. She struck out a season-high 12 batters.
In the nightcap, Ali Downing allowed five hits in dropping the extra-inning contest. Belmont's Devon Schmidt struck out seven for the victory.
Using the international tiebreaker rule of placing a runner on second to start the eighth inning, Becca Gift singled home pinch runner Kayla Brown for the game-winning hit. Belmont improved to 5-11.
SIUE picked up just one run in the nightcap. Barron scored on an infield throwing error in the sixth inning.
"Erika and Ali threw well. We just have to swing the bats better," said Montgomery.
SIUE now has a few days to prepare for its Ohio Valley Conference debut and home opener Saturday. The Cougars take on Southeast Missouri State in a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The conference three-game series concludes Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m.
This is will be SIUE's first home game after the first 21 contests of the season have been on the road.
"It's been a long month. We'll be happy to be on our own field," Montgomery said. "I have no doubt that things will turn around."
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