April 23, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Erika Taylor became the third player in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball history to record three career no-hitters Saturday as the Cougars defeated Tennessee State 6-0.

The Cougars won the rubber game of a three-game series against the Tigers in spectacular fashion. Taylor struck out 12 and walked two.

The Cougar right-hander from Boonville, Ind., flirted with a perfect game through six innings but allowed a two out walk to pinch-hitter Shanika Johnson. Brittany Webb would draw another walk in the seventh and was the only runner to make it to second base against Taylor.

"When Erika in on her game, she's capable of shutting teams down," said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery. Taylor retired the first 17 batters of Saturday's game to improve her season record to 17-13.

Taylor joins Montgomery and Kaitlin Colosimo as the only players to have thrown three or more career no-hitters. Montgomery tossed a school-record six no-hitters from 1982 to 1985. Colosimo tossed three no-hitters in the 2007 national championship season, including two in the NCAA Championships.

Taylor is the first player in school history to record three no-hitters against NCAA Division I competition. Saturday's no-hitter is the 27th for SIUE softball.

Even though it was all about the no-hitter, the Cougar offense stepped up for nine hits, including three from Megan Murphy.

"Murphy hit the ball well all weekend," said Montgomery.

The Cougars also picked up two hits each from Chelsea Yankolovich and Whitney Davis. Montgomery said Yankolovich also made her presence known defensively. "We have different people stepping up to make plays. That's a positive," Montgomery said. "We're really just trying to get better every day. We haven't peaked yet. Hopefully, we do that at the end of the season."

SIUE, now 24-23 overall, improved its season mark to 16-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Cougars maintained third place overall and trail just Eastern Illinois (21-3) and Jacksonville State (19-5). Only two others teams in the OVC have winning records in league play - UT Martin (15-8) and Southeast Missouri State (14-10).

With the loss, Tennessee State fell to 11-41 and 5-22 in the OVC.

The Cougars have a busy week planned beginning with a 3 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday at home against Saint Louis. SIUE travels to Missouri for a single game Wednesday and then prepares for a key three-game series Saturday and Sunday with UT Martin at Cougar Field.

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