April 6, 2005

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Wednesday, April 06, 2005) The Southeast Missouri State softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to 24th-ranked Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Wednesday afternoon at the Southeast Softball Complex. The Redhawks fell 4-1 in game one and lost a tough 1-0 game in the finale.

The Redhawks (16-15, 5-4 OVC) played the Salukis (30-8, 8-1 MVC) close in both games as the pitching held the potent Saluki offense to five runs on 14 hits in the doubleheader.

In game one Redhawks starter Kelly Birk (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison HS) had problems in her first start of the season.

In the opening inning she allowed three runs, only two of which were earned on two hits.

She settled down and was able to hold the Salukis scoreless the next two innings.

The Redhawks scored their lone run in the bottom of the third. With one out Charlene Ramirez (Walnut, CA/Mt. San Antonio CC) singled to left center. Stephanie Mata (Wheeling, IL/Wheeling HS) moved her to second on a well-placed sacrifice bunt. Michelle Summers (Glendale, CA/Hoover) fought off a 0-2 count with seven-straight foul balls and laced a double off of Saluki starter Cassidy Scoggins down the left field line for her 18th RBI of the season cutting the Saluki deficit to 3-1.

Scoggins retired Victoria Torrez (Garden Grove, CA/Cypress CC) to get out of the inning. Scoggins then held the Redhawks hitless the final four innings en route to her 13th win of the season.

The Salukis added another run off of Birk in the fourth for the final margin of 4-1.

Birk (1-1) received the loss as she allowed four runs, three earned in three innings on four hits.

Freshman Elaine Fisher (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell North) was marvelous in her relief appearance as she pitched four innings allowing no runs and allowing only one hit. In the top of the sixth Fisher struck out the side against the heart of the Saluki order.

In game two the Redhawks was able to knock Saluki starter Ashley Hamby out of the game when the loaded the bases with two outs. Unfortunately the Salukis countered with All-American Amy Harre who would pitch the remaining 6.1 innings for the 1-0 shutout.

OVC pitcher of the week Amy Fahnestock (Ste. Genevieve, MO/Wabash CC) was equally impressive in her pitching performance. Fahnestock (10-6) went the distance in her seventh-straight game allowing only one run on nine hits.

The Salukis scored the only run of the game in the top of the third on a Katie Louis RBI single.

The Redhawks threatened in the bottom of the seventh. With the tying run at third base in Megan McDonald (Cape Girardeau, MO/Cape Central), Harre struckout Fahnestock to end the game.

Harre won her 14th game of the season allowing two hits and striking out eight.

The Redhawks continue their home swing when they host OVC rival Eastern Kentucky this weekend. On Saturday, April 9 the teams will play a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. The teams will play one game on Sunday with the start time at 1:00 p.m.