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Box Score 2 MOREHEAD, Ky. – Zoe Schafer put an ironic twist on her 200th career hit Saturday as SIUE softball swept Morehead State 8-1 and 5-0.
Schafer blasted her 31st home run of her collegiate career, the most by a Cougar in the Division I era, in game two of the doubleheader for her 200th hit. The Cougar senior became the 10th player to hit the 200 mark in school history and the third in the Division I era.
"It is an incredible accomplishment for her to join the 200-hit club and even more fitting to be a home run," said SIUE Assistant Coach Valerie McCoy. "We're so incredibly proud of her and what she has done in her career at SIUE."
The Cougars improved to 14-14 in the Ohio Valley Conference and 14-21 overall, winning its fourth- and fifth-straight game. Morehead State dropped to 11-26 overall and 3-22 in the OVC.
SIUE's pitching was on target all day. Sydney Baalman struck out six and did not walk a batter in game one. Emily Ingles tossed her 12th career shutout while fanning 10 batters in game two.
"Sydney and Emily both controlled the day and established the zone well," said McCoy. "Sydney kept us close in game one and allowed our offense to get going and come back. Emily had 10 strikeouts and threw a shutout. I'm am extremely proud of the way she came out and threw."
In game one, Baalman and Morehead State's Lennon Spicer battled in a pitcher's duel for four innings.
Down 1-0, the Cougars took the lead for the first time in the fifth inning with a three-run homer by Lexi King to center field.
In the sixth, SIUE made it 4-1 when Alana Cobb-Adams reached on an infield error that brought home Rachael Quaritsch. King made it 7-1 and increased her day's RBI total to a career-best six with a bases-loaded triple down the right field line.
"Lexi hit the ball well and came up with a timely home run in the fifth inning when we were down 1-0 and then a three-run triple in the sixth in the first game, which was huge to break the game open."
Schafer added a sacrifice fly to close out SIUE's scoring in the sixth.
In the nightcap, Ingles just needed a little bit of run support for her four-hitter. Schafer provided a two-RBI single in the first inning for the only runs needed. Schafer's historic home run in the fourth inning capped off the scoring.
Schafer, Micah Arps and Ava Bieneman each had two hits. Overall, SIUE had 12 hits in game two.
"Ava came out today and went 5 for 6 after returning to the lineup," said McCoy. Bieneman had missed the last six games.
SIUE and Morehead State have one more game scheduled, a 12 p.m. CT contest Sunday.
