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Softball pounds Minnesota, 11-4; improves to 3-0 at Jacksonville University Tournament
Feb. 9, 2008
By Kyle Herm
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Southern Illinois softball team used a seven-run fourth inning to come-from-behind to beat Minnesota, 11-4, Saturday morning at the Jacksonville University Tournament. The Salukis' offense was led by sophomore outfielder Katie Schmidt who went 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run home run, a double, and a new career-high with five runs batted in. Sophomore second baseman Alicia Garza also went 2-for-3 and connected on a three-run home run, and sophomore rightfielder Katie Wilson had three hits and a run scored. Junior catcher Jayme Wamsley also tied a career-high with three hits, while driving in a run and scoring once. A total of 10 different Salukis scored runs in the game and SIU got its lead-off batter on base in five out of the seven innings in the game. "This was one of the best games we've played offensively in a long time," said SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock. "What I like is that we got a lead, they (Minnesota) came back, but we responded immediately with our bats." The 16 hits by the Salukis are the most by the team since last season's win at Northern Iowa on April 21. SIU beat the Panthers, 14-1, and recorded 19 hits. Southern Illinois jumped out to a quick lead in the first two innings. Junior Chelsea Petty drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the first to put SIU up, 1-0, and Schmidt increased the Salukis' lead with a two-run homer in the top of the second to make it, 3-0. Minnesota responded however in the bottom of the third inning. With one out and the bases loaded, the Golden Gophers' leftfielder Sila Fernandez hit a grand slam home run to left field to put Minnesota up, 4-3.
The Salukis' offense responded with a bang in the ensuing inning to regain the lead. With two runners on and one out, Garza smacked a three-run home run down the left field line to put SIU up, 6-4. The hit parade continued with Wilson on first base, Petty lined an RBI-triple into the gap in right-center field to make it, 7-4. Southern Illinois added three more runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI-single by Wamsley and a two-out, two-RBI double by Schmidt to increase the lead to, 10-4. Schmidt drove in her fifth run on a groundout to first base in the top of the sixth to make the final score, 11-4. Junior pitcher Katie McNamara earned the victory, and improved to 2-0 on the season. The Putnam Valley, N.Y. native pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief, and shutdown the Golden Gophers by not giving up a run, and only allowing one hit with four strikeouts. The Salukis will take on host Jacksonville, Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET, for their fourth game of the tournament. Live statistics and a pay-per-view internet video stream of the game are available at the links below.
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