April 30, 2011

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Senior Day will determine who wins the weekend softball series between Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and UT Martin.

SIUE and UT Martin split a doubleheader Saturday with the Cougars overpowering the Skyhawks 10-2 in six innings and UT Martin grabbing the nightcap 5-3. Sunday's Senior Day will mark the final home game for SIUE seniors Kasey Schlafke, Ali Downing, Erika Taylor and Laurie Siebert. Game time at Cougar Field is 1 p.m.

The Cougars continue to hold on to third place in Ohio Valley Conference play with a 17-9 record. SIUE is 26-26 overall. UTM remains one-half game behind the Cougars for third with a 28-22 record overall and a 16-9 mark in the OVC.

SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said the Cougars played well overall and she was happy with the team's performance.

The Cougars came out swinging the bats in game one. SIUE knocked out UTM starter Chelsea Jones after just 1 1/3 innings by collecting eight runs off nine hits. Jones fell to 14-10 overall.

SIUE third baseman Kasey Schlafke set the tone early with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning that put SIUE ahead 3-1.

"She's been clutch like that all season," Montgomery said of Schlafke.

SIUE would score five more in the second inning for SIUE starter Erika Taylor, who improved to 19-14. Taylor struck out four and walked one.

"She (Taylor) did what she need to do today, but wasn't as sharp as she has been," Montgomery said.

Taylor equaled her win total of last season and now needs one more victory to become the ninth player in school history to record 20 in a season.

Chelsea Yankolovich turned in the third three-hit game of her young collegiate career. She reached base four times in game one, scoring two runs, and adding an RBI.

"For a freshman, she's been there all year. We just decided to throw her out there early and take the good with the bad. Obviously, there's been a lot more good than bad," Montgomery said.

In game two, the Cougars had the momentum when Taylor Tooley launched her seventh home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth. The three-run shot boosted Tooley's team-leading RBI total to 38.

UT Martin answered with three runs in the top of the fifth and added an insurance run in the seventh. Jenny Bain powered the Skyhawks with two hits and three RBIs. Montgomery said it was a case of missed chances.

"We missed a couple of opportunities to tie the game there at the end. We didn't capitalize on a couple of things," said Montgomery.

Amanda Bradenburg went the distance for UTM and earned her 10th victory of the season. Lindsey Coleman took the loss and is now 5-3.

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