Box Score

March 9, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

HONOLULU - The Saluki softball team opened bracket play Sunday morning at the Malihini Kipa Aloha tournament with a, 9-3, victory against Idaho State behind the play of junior third baseman Katie Wagner. The Mt. Vernon native hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the fourth inning, and recorded a career-high six runs batted in.

SIU improved to 12-10 on the season, and 3-3 in the tournament, and set-up a rematch with No. 22-ranked Washington at 12 p.m. in the semi-finals of bracket play.

Just as they did in the first meeting, Idaho State took an early lead on the Salukis in the top of the first.

With one out, Brittany Olsin got the first hit of the ballgame on a single to left field. Following a walk and a hit-by-pitch, the Bengals filled the bases for Krista Armstrong.

Saluki starter Danielle Glosson was relieved by junior Katie McNamara following the hit batter.

Armstrong chopped an infield single to SIU shortstop Becky Wegmann to allow the first run to cross home, and give ISU a 1-0 lead.

The Bengals added another run on a soft single that painted the shallow left foul line to put Idaho State up, 2-0, after two innings of play.

SIU resiliently battled back, and adjusted to the slower speed of Idaho States' starting pitcher, Natasha Milosovich, to score four runs in the bottom of the third.

With two-outs and senior Clare Ford pinch-running on first base, Wagner hit a line-drive two-run home run over the left field wall to even the score, 2-2.

The tied score quickly evaporated as SIU took its first lead of the game two batters later on a two-run double by Wilson into the left field corner to give the Salukis a 4-2 advantage after three innings.

With one out and the bases loaded, Wagner smoked a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left-center field for a grand slam home run.

It was Wagner's third home run of the tournament, and fourth of the season. The Mt. Vernon native also recorded her 12th RBI of the competition in Hawaii.

SIU tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run by freshman catcher, Cristina Trapani. It was the first-career homer by Trapani, and gave Southern Illinois a 9-2 lead after five innings.

Idaho State reclaimed one run in the top of the sixth on a home run by Whitney Chaffe, but ultimately was shut down by McNamara through the final five innings.

McNamara earned her fifth win of the season in 5 2/3 innings pitched with six strikeouts.

SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said she was pleased to see the veterans help lead the offensive charged comeback.

"I really feel that besides the Washington game, we've hit the ball very well this trip," Blaylock explained. "The top of the lineup, 1-5, have been the ones to get the bats going for the whole team."