March 30, 2010

CONWAY, Ark. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville swept a softball doubleheader from the University of Central Arkansas Tuesday afternoon at Farris Field, winning 3-0 and 3-1.

SIUE, 18-16, has now won three in a row. UCA, 13-22, has lost five straight.

Freshman Taylor Tooley hit her team-leading fourth home run of the year, a two-run shot to left, to break a 1-1 tie in the sixth and the Cougars held on for the 3-1 win in the nightcap. Tooley finished 1 for 3.

Ali Downing, 4-6, threw a complete game for the win. She gave up the run on six hits and struck out six UCA batters.

In game one, the Cougars got a four-hit shutout from Erika Taylor and all the offense they needed on one swing of the bat.

Laurie Siebert put SIUE up to stay in the first inning when she drilled a two-run home run to left. Siebert's drive scored Megan Murphy who was hit by a pitch leading off the game.

Taylor tossed her 20th complete game of the season and her sixth shutout, striking out five. The junior right-hander retired the final 11 batters she faced to improve to 14-10.

Lauren Zembruski was 3 for 3 in Tuesday's opener. She doubled to lead off the seventh inning and scored later in the inning on a wild pitch for the final margin.

The Cougars will be back in action Friday when they travel to Macomb to take on Western Illinois in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 pm.

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