April 21, 2008

Carbondale, IL (UWIRE) -- With their rivals on their turf for senior weekend, the Salukis couldn't find a way to pick up a win.

The SIU softball team dropped all three games against Missouri Valley Conference leader Creighton (33-13, 11-2) in its final home conference series of the season.

After dropping both games Saturday, the Salukis looked to redeem themselves Sunday but gave up a 3-0 lead to get swept for the second time this season in conference play and the first time against Creighton since 2001.

Coach Kerri Blaylock said pitching efforts from freshman Danielle Glosson and a solid offensive campaign weren't enough to finish off the Bluejays.

"That's why they are picked to win the conference," Blaylock said. "Their No. 2,3,4 and 5 hitters just bore down and got the big hits."

On Sunday, the Salukis tried to forget about a two-run loss against the Bluejays a day earlier, but couldn't hold a three-run lead as they dropped the game 5-3.

The Salukis (24-19, 10-7) used an RBI single by junior third baseman Katie Wagner and a two-run homer by junior catcher Jayme Wamsley to go up 3-0 in the bottom of the second.

The Salukis couldn't hold the lead as Creighton slugger T.J. Eadus hit an RBI-triple in the top of the fourth and RBI-double in the top of the sixth to tie the game 3-3.

Bluejay junior shortstop Bailey Dawson put the game out of reach with a two run home run in the top of the seventh.

Sophomore Katie Wilson said the team was over-confident with a three-run lead and became content as the game went along.

"They came back and scored in the top of the seventh and you try to press for a run but it's hard when you only have one chance to come back," Wilson said.

In game one Saturday, Glosson took a shutout into the top of the fifth when Creighton's Michelle Graner hit a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Bluejays the game-winning run for 1-0 win.

The Salukis threatened the lead numerous times but couldn't get a run across the plate as they stranded eight base runners and struggled to make contact against Creighton pitcher Tara Oltman who struck out a season-high 12 batters in the game.

Blaylock said the team talked about the threat Oltman presented but stayed confident and still came out with an attacking mindset.

Freshman pitcher Nikki Waters tried to help the team rebound in game two but gave up a three-run home run in the top of the first.

The Salukis got off to a strong start in the bottom of the first with senior left fielder Tiffanie Dismore getting on base with a single before stealing second.

Wilson would drive Dismore home on a double to help cut the lead to 3-1.

SIU's momentum came to a halt when Waters threw a series of illegal pitches that prompted Blaylock to make a pitching change and send junior reliever Katie McNamara to the circle in the second inning.

McNamara couldn't slow the Bluejays' offense as it exploded for four more runs in the top of the second and won by a final score of 9-2.

Five seniors - Lauren Haas, Clare Ford, Dismore, Krystal Stein and Becky Wegmann - were honored in a post-game ceremony after Saturday's double-header.

Blaylock couldn't hide her emotions as she spoke to the crowd about the efforts from the five both on and off the field.

Haas said a sweep on senior weekend is unfortunate but sweeps are hard to deal with at any point in the season.

"We hit pretty well, but we just didn't hit enough," Haas said.

A chance of possibly seeing the Bluejays in the championship game of the MVC tournament, which will be played at Charlotte West Stadium, gives Blaylock the confidence to beat them come tournament time.

"That's what I just told the kids, you know you can beat them," Blaylock said. "And that's what we got out of this weekend. Come May 7th, 8th and 9th, we know we can beat them."

The Salukis will wrap up play at Charlotte West Stadium for the season in a non-conference double-header against Tennessee-Martin Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m.

(C) 2008 Daily Egyptian via UWIRE