Box Score JACKSON, Miss. – Playing in its first of five games this weekend, the SIUE softball team was defeated 4-3 in 10 innings by Kansas Friday afternoon at the Jackson State Softball Complex.
"We're not getting the job done. That's the bottom line," Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said after the game. "Until we learn to be more resilient, we're going to keep losing these one-run games."
Kansas took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Cougars (1-9) rallied to tie the game in the top of the seventh when Rebecca Gray produced an RBI double to plate Jill Rackers.
After the game went to extra innings with the score still knotted at 2-2, SIUE grabbed a 3-2 lead via an RBI squeeze bunt from Allison Smiley to score Chelsea Yankolovich.
The Jayhawks (5-4) would respond, tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning and winning in the bottom of the 10th with an RBI single from Alex Jones.
"It's tough," Montgomery added. "We have kids on this team who are used to stepping up in big spots and they're not doing that right now. It's all about pushing through and handling failure. Once we start doing that, we'll do a much better job."
Haley Chambers got the start in the circle for SIUE, recording six strikeouts in 9.1 innings of work. The sophomore allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits.
Friday's loss is the fourth one-run defeat the Cougars have suffered so far this season. SIUE is now 1-3 in extra-inning games.
"We just need to be a lot tougher and a little stronger, and we'll win some of these close games," Montgomery said. "It doesn't matter who we're playing."
SIUE will be back in action later today when they take on Southeastern Louisiana at 6:30 p.m. The game will be the first of two straight between the Cougars and Lady Lions.
"I want our kids to start being accountable," Montgomery said. "It's going to happen. It's still early."
