March 24, 2007
Softball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SYCAMORES DROP A PAIR TO #19/22 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Sycamores came into the day with a (15-10, 1-2 MVC) record as they were coming off a thrilling 5-4 win over Saint Louis that went to the 14th inning before the winning run was scored. In that game Darcy Wood threw for 23 strikeouts which was good for the 5th highest total in NCAA Division I Softball History.

The visiting Salukis, who are now #19/22, came into the day with a record of (24-6, 5-0 MVC) while riding a 6-game winning streak. The Salukis have an Ace Pitcher of their own in Senior Cassidy Scoggins who, along with Wood, was named as a Pre Season Missouri Valley Conference First Team Pitcher.

Game one saw the two ace’s go head to head in a game that was 0-0 until the top of the 4th inning when Southern Illinois went on a rally and never looked back. The game ended by a score of 7-0 for the Salukis.

Darcy Wood went 3.1 innings giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits while striking out three Salukis. Cassidy Scoggins of Southern Illinois went for a complete game shutout, allowing only two hits with eight strikeouts.

In the top of the 4th the Salukis powered their way to five runs on two homeruns. The first was a solo shot by Lauren Haas and the second was a Grand Slam as Tiffanie Dismore powered shot over the right field fence with the bases loaded. The Salukis would later add two more runs in the 6th to make the final score 7-0.

The two Sycamore hits were tallied by Senior Jackie Chomicki, 1 for 2, and Sophomore Meredith Simpson, 1 for 3.

Following a brief intermission the two teams kicked off the second game of the day at 2:00 p.m. local time.

The starting pitchers for game two would be Sophomore Katie Armour for the Sycamores, making her second start of the year with a 0-0 record, and Ashley Hamby for the Salukis who had a record of 12-3.

This game would also be decided in the top of the 4th as the Salukis rallied five runs across in the inning to make the score 5-2 at that point in the game. The Salukis would add another run in the 7th to make the final score 6-2 in their favor.

The Sycamores struck first in the bottom of the first off the bat of Junior Katie Iocoangeli who drove two run homerun into the parking lot beyond the left field fence, bringing around her team mate, Senior Jackie Chomicki who had singled earlier in the inning.

The Salukis five run 4th inning was punctuated by two home runs, a solo shot by Jayme Wamsley and a two run blast by Katie Wilson.

Katie Armour would take the loss in this game as she pitched 3.1 innings giving up three runs on four hits.

At the conclusion of the day of games the Sycamores saw their record drop to (15-12, 1-4 MVC) while the #19/22 Salukis saw their record move to (26-6, 7-0 MVC).

The teams return to action Sunday to complete the three game series as they will play a 12:00 noon game at Price Field on the Campus of Indiana State University.