Box Score

March 6, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

HONOLULU - The Saluki softball team's comeback attempt fell short, 4-3, against the No. 15-ranked Hawaii Rainbow Wahine in the second game Thursday of the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii. Junior third baseman, Katie Wagner and sophomore outfielder Katie Wilson each had two hits, and a run batted in to lead the offense.

The Salukis fell to 10-9 on the season, and have dropped five straight games after starting the tournament, 0-2.

Freshman starting pitcher Danielle Glosson recorded eight strikeouts in six innings without walking a batter, and held Hawaii scoreless for the final four innings of the game to set-up the SIU comeback.

"I'm very proud of the way Danielle threw against a very talented team," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "Hawaii is definitely the 15th-ranked team in the country, and we came out and attacked them right from the start. We just have to get better on the mental side of things in one-run ballgames."

Southern Illinois jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning behind clutch hitting from Wilson.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Wilson laced an RBI-single into left field to propel the Salukis into the lead, 1-0.

The RBI was Wilson's fourth of the tournament after driving in three runs earlier in the day on a three-run home run against Eastern Kentucky.

The Saluki lead would be short-lived however, as Hawaii answered immediately in the bottom of the first with its own timely hitting.

With two outs, UH put together back-to-back singles, before left fielder Brandi Peiler hit a two-RBI double into the gap in right center field to put the Rainbow Wahine up, 2-1.

Hawaii added to its lead, again with two outs, in the bottom of the second inning.

The Saluki offense hit a roadblock after the first inning success, as UH starting pitcher Kate Robinson retired 10-straight SIU batters in the second, third and fourth innings.

Senior shortstop Becky Wegmann ended Robinson's streak by drawing a two-out walk in the fourth frame.

Glosson matched Robinson's performance in the circle though by striking out three out of the eight batters she faced in the third and fourth innings to freeze the Rainbow Wahine's offense.

Southern Illinois began to creep back in the top of the fifth inning on another big two-out hit. Junior third baseman Katie Wagner crushed a high towering solo home run to left center field to draw the Salukis within two, 4-2. It was Wagner's second home run of the season after clubbing her first last weekend at the Coach B Southern Classic.

The Salukis pushed another run across in the top of the sixth to crawl within a run, 4-3. With one out and the bases loaded, junior outfielder Katie Schmidt grounded out to the first baseman, allowing Wilson to score from third.

Hawaii's relief pitcher, Jessica Morton, closed out the game in the top of the seventh, retiring the Salukis in order to earn her first save of the season.

SIU continues play at the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament against Idaho State at 2 p.m. HT and against the Netherlands National Team at 4 p.m. HT on Friday at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.