Box Score

March 9, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

HONOLULU - The Southern Illinois softball team was defeated, 9-0, by No. 22-ranked Washington Sunday afternoon in the semifinals of the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Salukis were limited to three base runners and one hit in the game and concluded the tournament with a 3-4 record.

SIU (12-11) lost to the Huskies, 11-1, in its only game on Saturday morning, and had a difficult time keeping the 1-4 hitters off the base paths in the second meeting of the tournament.

Washington's first four hitters drove in all nine of the Huskies runs, and recorded all seven hits in the game.

"The top four hitters for Washington slap, bunt, steal, and create everything with their speed," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "They (Washington) are a very good ballclub, and the top of their lineup really pushes you to get them out."

UW started early and pushed a run across in the bottom of the first to take an early, 1-0.

With one out and a runner on second, second baseman Jace Williams hit a hard ground ball that made it all the way into the gap in left-center field for a double, to drive in the first run of the game.

Southern Illinois struggled early against UW right-handed starter Aleah Macon. Macon did not allow a hit with six strikeouts through the first three innings, and SIU was only able to scrap together two base runners on a pair of walks.

Washington (15-6-1) added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning to increase its lead, 4-0.

With one out, and runners on second and third base, Williams drove in another run on a fielder's choice to make it, 2-0. The next batter, shortstop Morgan Stuart, hit an RBI-infield single, and Ashlyn Watson drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to cap the three-run inning.

The Salukis finally got their first hit of the afternoon on a line-drive single to right field by sophomore outfielder Katie Wilson, but another strikeout by Macon ended any hope of a two-out rally.

Southern Illinois had one last chance to extend the game in the top of the fifth, but Macon shutdown the Salukis again to close out the game.

The freshman hurler from Upland, Calif. posted eight strikeouts against SIU to earn her sixth win of the season.

Freshman starter Nikki Waters took the loss to fall to 6-5 on the year.

"I feel that Nikki (Waters) pitched much better today, even though the score might show otherwise," Blaylock said. "But we're getting better."

The Salukis will return home next weekend to begin Missouri Valley Conference play against Northern Iowa Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16. SIU will open the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 12 p.m. at Charlotte West Stadium.