April 17, 2011

RICHMOND, Ky. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball smacked two home runs Sunday to run its season-best winning streak to seven games with a 6-1 victory over Eastern Kentucky.

Paige Sheeder and Rachel Coonrod each homered for the Cougars. Erika Taylor recorded her 15th victory of the season with a one-hitter.

SIUE improved its season record to 22-21 overall and 14-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Along with the seven-game winning streak, SIUE has won nine of its last 10 outings.

SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said she was happy with Sunday's win. "They (Eastern Kentucky) are a very good hitting ballclub so to get three here is good."

SIUE rallied for five runs in the second inning and didn't look back against the Colonels, now 21-21 overall and 8-15 in the OVC.

Sheeder capped an outstanding week with her sixth home run of the season. Her second-inning blast was her fourth of the week. Sheeder was followed by Coonrod who added a two-run shot later in the inning.

Taylor tossed her third one-hitter of the season and the second this week. EKU's only run came in a second, an 0-2 home run to shortstop Christina Ciolek. Taylor struck out eight Sunday and now has an OVC-leading 192 strikeouts.

"Erika threw very well," said Montgomery. "She had command of her pitches today."

SIUE added an insurance run in the seventh inning as Coonrod opened the frame with a walk. Jill Rackers would replace Coonrod on the basepaths and score after a wild pitch and an infield error.

The Cougars continue their longest road trip of the season Tuesday with a rescheduled game against Southern Illinois. Game time is 4 p.m. in Carbondale. Next weekend, SIUE ends its road trip with a three-game series at Tennessee State in Nashville, Tenn.

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