April 24, 2002

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Two unearned runs in the top of the second inning of game one helped the Southern Illinois Salukis to a 3-1 victory over Southeast Missouri before rains and lightning moved into the area and forced the cancellation of game two.

Southern Illinois (27-14) was able to get on the board first in game one thanks an RBI groundout by DP Kelly Creek that scored LF Katie Jordan, who had singled earlier in the inning.

Southeast Missouri (12-24) answered right back in the bottom of the inning thanks to an RBI double by RF Courtney Eklund. Eklund's blast to leftfield scored LF Katie Cerneka, who had reached base on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning, all the way from first base.

The Salukis scored twice more in the second inning, both unearned. CF Maria Damico reached base on a three-base error by Southeast and scored on a second error when 1B Jami Weddle grounded out to third. SS Adie Viefhaus droved in the third run of the game with a single up the middle that scored pinch runner Tara Glasco and increased the Saluki lead to 3-1.

Southeast got out of a jam in the top of the fifth when Haley Viefhaus's fly ball to rightfield looked deep enough to sacrifice home pinch runner Kendra Moore. But Eklund made a great throw to nail Moore, SIU's fastest runner, at homeplate to turn the ending inning double play. The double play was the second of the game for Southeast and 20th of the season. It marked the third time this season, Eklund had nailed a runner at homeplate with a great throw to end an inning.

With the score still 3-1 in favor of SIU heading into the bottom of the seventh, Southeast mounted a rally and had runners on second and third with two outs. But the Otahkians could not convert and dropped game one of the doubleheader, their fourth loss in a row to SIU.

Amy Harre (16-8) was the winning pitcher, going the distance and allowing only three hits while striking out nine Southeast batters. She retired 16 of 17 Otahk batters she faced from the last batter of the first inning to the first batter of the seventh inning. Harre has recorded six wins in a row, all complete games victories.

Kelly Birk (6-9), the Otahkians hottest pitcher as of late, took the tough loss, allowing three runs on seven hits. Only one of the runs was earned, however.

"SIU has a strong team," Coach Lana Richmond said after the game. "Harre gave them a good performance. But Kelly Birk was right with her. I can't say enough about the job Kelly has done, she has really come on."

"We have a lot of people out with injuries and I thought it was a good opportunity to give some other people some reps."

A little over an inning into game two with SIU leading 1-0, lightning forced the teams off the field and forthcoming rain and storms cancelled the rest of the contest.

Southeast will finish out the regular season with a doubleheader against Tennessee-Martin at home on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The first game will count in the OVC standings, while the second game will act as a non-conference contest.

Game Notes: Courtney Eklund's double in the first inning was the 25th of her career; she now ranks 10th all-time in doubles in a career at Southeast ... LF Katie Cerneka left the game in the top of the fourth after being involved in a collision in the outfield ... three Otahkians did not play in the game due to injuries: Brooke Nett, Alicia Loucks and Michelle Lunsford ... SIU now leads the all-time series by a 48-22-1 margin.