April 5, 2005

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Tuesday, April 05, 2005) The Southeast Missouri State softball team hosts non-conference regional rival Southern Illinois University-Carbondale tomorrow in a doubleheader at the Southeast Softball Complex with the first game starting at 3:00 p.m.

Scouting the Redhawks

The Redhawks (16-13, 5-4 OVC) are coming off a road sereis with Ohio Valley Conference opponent Tennessee State this past weekend. The Redhawks took tow out of three, including a 14-0 victory in the final game. The 14 runs were the most runs scored by the Redhawks in two years.

Amy Fahnestock (Ste. Genevieve, MO/Wabash CC) went 2-1 last week allowing only one earned run in being named the OVC's Pitcher of the Week. Fahnestock leads the team with 10 wins and has pitched six-straight complete games.

Offensively the Redhawks have five batters hitting over .300 led by Lindsay Pickering (St. Charles, MO/St. Charles West HS) who is hitting .385. Freshman lead-off hitter Michelle Summers (Glendale, CA/Hoover) leads the team in most offensive categories including homeruns (7), RBIs (17), runs (27), doubles (8) and slugging percentage (.610).

Scouting the Salukis

The Salukis (28-8) are ranked 24th nationally in the latest ESPN,com/USA Softball poll. They have won 11-straight on the road this season including a win over 15th-ranked Missouri and their first-ever three-game sweep over Missouri Valley Conference power Illinois State.

The Salukis are 7-0 in midweek games this season, including the three wins last week. Southern Illinois has swept all three midweek doubleheaders against Samford, Wright State and St. Louis and the single game against Missouri.

SIU has won 11 straight games for the second time this season and has won 22 of its last 23 games.

All-American Amy Harre is the ace of the Saluki staff. Harre has won her last five decisions and is 13-6 overall with a 1.21 ERA, 115 strikeouts, 34 walks, seven shutouts and 18 complete games in 138.2 innings pitched.

Lauren Rooney leads the Salukis offensively with a team-high .349 batting average. Katie Louis provides the power with 10 homers and 29 RBIs.

The Series

Southern Illinois has won eight straight versus SEMO under former Southeast assistant and alum Kerri Blaylock and 12 of 13 in her first five years. The Salukis lead the all-time series 69-28-1, including 3-0 and 3-1 wins at Charlotte West Stadium in 2004.

The doubleheader will be broadcasted by the Salukis via the internet at www.siusalukis.com.