April 17, 2008

Carbondale, IL (UWIRE) -- An unexpected winter break in Iowa last weekend cooled off the SIU softball team's hot streak but didn't fully ice it.

The Salukis split their first games since April 9 Wednesday at Charlotte West Stadium as visiting Evansville escaped with a 5-0 victory before falling 5-3 to cap the doubleheader.

It didn't take long for the Purple Aces (19-16, 5-9) to snap the Salukis' 27-straight scoreless inning streak as they put a run across in the top of the first inning. After Nikki Waters surrendered a leadoff walk, Evansville first baseman Brittany Herald ripped a line drive to right field where Katie Wilson had an errant throw to home plate, allowing the first run to score.

Herald made her presence felt again in the sixth inning when she hit a solo home run to give Evansville the 2-0 lead. The Purple Aces didn't let up in the sixth and eventually chased Waters out of the game when third baseman Elissabeth Fehlman hit a three-run homer to give them the 5-0 victory.

Saluki junior Katie McNamara relieved Waters and threw 2.1 scoreless innings.

SIU (24-16, 10-4) had scoring chances but failed to get a run across. The Salukis had a player reach base every inning and finished with seven total hits. Sophomore second baseman Alicia Garza was especially effective in game one, going 3-for-4 with a double.

Coach Kerri Blaylock said the team competed hard but the timely hits weren't there.

"I think there are only three kids hitting the ball - three out of nine," Blaylock said. "If we can get all nine of them going at the same time I think we can be a very potent offense."

It was dejå vu for SIU in game two when Herald jump-started the Evansville offense in the top of the first. While Herald was responsible for bringing across an unearned run to start game one, she earned all of a solo homer to start game two.

Junior catcher Jayme Wamsley responded in the bottom of the second with a two-run homer to give SIU the lead. The home run was Wamsley's first since Feb. 23 and second on the season. She finished 3-for-3 in game two.

Wamsley said it was good to go deep again and she hopes it sparks her offense going forward.

"I've been hitting 0-for-100 it feels like," Wamsley said. "Since I was able to get in a rhythm again I felt like it's definitely going to boost my confidence to know I still have it."

The Salukis took a 2-1 lead into the fifth, but suffered a defensive lapse and Evansville took advantage. Freshman pitcher Danielle Glosson fielded a bunt and threw it away, causing runners to advance to second and third with no outs. Price and Kristen Shirk chipped in one RBI each to retake the lead for Evansville.

The game was slipping away in the bottom of the sixth until Garza came to bat with two on and two out. Garza proceeded to hit a two-RBI double, which was followed by an RBI single from the returning Tiffanie Dismore to give SIU the 5-3 lead and win.

Dismore took her first at-bats since suffering a broken jaw six weeks ago and finished 3-for-3 with the final RBI in game two.

Dismore said she was just happy to get back out in the field and contribute to a win.

"It's good to get back in the box. It felt right," Dismore said. "I just wanted to help the team out especially after sitting out for six weeks. I just didn't want to think too much."

(C) 2008 Daily Egyptian via UWIRE