Softball: SIU wins one game
April 12, 2007
Bad weather cut the SIU softball team’s weekend short after a 13-0 win over Drake.
The No. 20 Salukis were scheduled to play three games against Drake over the weekend but were only able to play Friday as cold weather forced the cancellation of Saturday’s doubleheader.
The Missouri Valley Conference has a policy if air temperature is not 35 degrees by gametime, both coaches have to agree to play the game.
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Drake did not agree to play. The games will not be made up.
Saluki coach Kerri Blaylock said she was disappointed the Salukis were not able to get the games in.
“Obviously, selfishly I did want to play,” Blaylock said. “I felt like we were on a roll. We were playing very well, so I wasn’t excited about canceling. But that’s why the rule is in place.”
SIU only needed five innings to defeat Drake. The Salukis tallied 10 hits for the eighth time this season in the 13-0 win.
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Sophomore catcher Jayme Wamsley said she knew the Salukis were going to come in aggressively.
“We hate to lose. We all just have to work together,” Wamsley said. “After having that rude awakening last weekend, we are all going to come back with a vengeance. We all work way too hard and way too much to slip now.”
SIU started the game with two fly outs, but then freshman second baseman Alicia Garza drew a walk and senior catcher Amanda Clifton singled. Wamsley smacked a double to give SIU a 2-0 lead after the first.
The double was one of seven the Salukis hit against Drake, setting a new school record for doubles in a game.
Junior outfielder Tiffanie Dismore and junior shortstop Becky Wegmann hit back-to-back doubles to start the second inning. Garza hit a two-run homer to push the Salukis’ lead to 7-0.
The home run extended Garza’s team-leading hitting streak to 13 games for the season.
SIU scored five runs in the fourth inning and had a streak of consecutive doubles from Garza, Clifton and freshman Allie Hanson. Junior first baseman Lauren Hass’ three-run homer gave the Salukis the 13-0 lead.
Hass has 16 home runs in her career, tying her for sixth all-time at SIU.
Senior pitcher Cassidy Scoggins improved to 15-5 as she struck out five and gave up four hits in her sixth shutout victory of the season.
Blaylock said she knew her team was going to have a big day after watching them warm up.
“You can get a very good read from the kids if they are warming up well and not worried about the conditions,” Blaylock said. “We were really aggressive at the plate. First strike that we saw we would hit and hitting is contagious, so when it started to roll we started to do well.”
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