Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 April 2, 2011
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Kasey Schlafke blasted a first inning grand slam and Lindsey Coleman won her third game of the season as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball split with Jacksonville State Saturday at Cougar Field.
SIUE, 14-20 and 6-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference, won the nightcap 7-4 after falling 3-0 in game one. Jacksonville State is now 25-9 overall and 11-2 in the OVC. The rubber game of the three-game series is set for Cougar Field at 1 p.m. Sunday.
"That was huge for us," said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery. "Obviously you want to get the split on day one against this team to give yourself an opportunity to win the series tomorrow."
Schlafke, a senior third baseman, hit her first career grand slam off Jacksonville State's Tiffany Harbin, who replaced starter Kristin Graham in the first inning. Harbin was the game one winner but was unable to keep the Cougars down a second time.
Coleman, now 3-1 this season, earned the victory with four strikeouts. She gave up six hits and just two earned runs.
"She handled it pretty well today. She kept the ball in on them," said Montgomery.
The Gamecocks, the OVC's leader in home runs, showed it with two in each game. Kelci Johnston hit a solo home run in game one and two more in the second game. Kristin Graham also homered in game one for Jacksonville State.
SIUE would score in each of the first three innings in game two. After Schlafke's home run set the pace, Taylor Tooley doubled home two runs with a bases-loaded double to left field in the second inning. Tooley finished 3 for 3. Lindsey Barron also had three hits in the second game as the Cougars outhit the Gamecocks 12-6.
Brianna Fulginiti added another home run for SIUE. She launched her third home run of the season, a solo shot in the third.
In game one, Harbin lifted the Gamecocks, finishing with 13 strikeouts and allowing no one past second bases. Barron and Schlafke had SIUE's only hits in the opener.
Three straight singles by Amanda Crow, Abbey Stepp and Sallie Beth Burch led to the only run in the fourth inning the Gamecocks would need.
Erika Taylor took the loss and is now 10-10. She allowed seven hits and fanned five Jacksonville State hitters.
"I'm happy with the split today. They bounced back after that loss the first game and played with confidence," said Montgomery.
