April 12, 2011

Paige Sheeder

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Erika Taylor tossed a one-hit shutout and SIUE hit three home runs Tuesday as the Cougars overpowered Murray State 11-0 in five innings.

SIUE softball boosted its Ohio Valley Conference record to 11-7 and moved into a tie for fourth place in league play with Southeast Missouri State. The Cougars are now 19-21 overall and continue the road trip with three games this weekend at Eastern Kentucky.

"Erika threw well. They got the hit on a change-up. They really didn't touch her," noted SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery.

Murray State, now 13-21 overall and 6-11 in the OVC, had one hit in the third inning by Taylor Wilson. The Racers used four pitchers against the Cougars. Chelsey Sullivan, who threw 2/3 of an inning, was charged with the loss and is now 6-12.

Taylor struck out seven for her 13th victory of the season. Montgomery said the defense behind Taylor also played well, including a diving stab to save a hit by second baseman Taylor Tooley in the bottom of the fifth.

With pitching and defense doing well, it was the Cougar offense that truly was on fire. The Cougars matched their season high of 11 runs and did it with eight hits overall. "That's pretty good run production," said Montgomery.

Brianna Fulginiti put SIUE on top early with her fourth home run of the season. SIUE loaded the bases all with two outs with a walk to Rachel Coonrod, a single to Tooley, and another single by Kasey Schlafke. Fulginiti's grand slam to center field in the first inning improved her season RBI total to 12 and gave SIUE an early 4-0 lead.

"The first inning was huge. Brianna had the grand slam, and that really set the tone," Montgomery said.

Paige Sheeder, playing right field and batting in the No. 9 position, had an ever better day the plate than Fulginiti's four-RBI day. Sheeder hit a two-run homer in the second inning that put SIUE up 6-0. After she garnered a walk in the third, Sheeder made it a two-home run day with a three-run blast down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth.

Megan Murphy added a pinch-hit double that drove home SIUE's 11th run of the game. Her fifth-inning hit scored Lindsey Barron.

Montgomery said the Cougars played solid defense, had good pitching and hit the ball well Tuesday. She said her team also has been working on the mental part of the game.

"We've been trying to work real hard on the mental side of being prepared and being sharp. We played well. We played with a lot of confidence and a lot of poise. I was very proud of how they handled themselves today," she said.

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