SIU vs. Gardner-Webb Box Score
SIU vs. Austin Peay Box Score

Feb. 15, 2009

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior Katie McNamara and sophomore Nikki Waters tossed back-to-back shutouts for the second consecutive day to help the No. 24 Saluki softball team win the Samford Bulldog Bash on Sunday.

McNamara threw a five-inning three-hitter in a 9-0 opening win against Gardner-Webb, and Waters followed with a three-hit nine strikeout performance in SIU's 6-0 win over Austin Peay.

Southern Illinois improved to 8-0 on the season to tie the program's second best start all-time.

The Salukis also set a program record with their fifth-straight shutout, which broke last year's previous record of four.

Junior second baseman Alicia Garza went 3-for-4 in both games Sunday, and came a triple short of hitting for the cycle with three RBI against Gardner-Webb.

Fellow Indiana native Chelsea Held also went 3-for-4 combined to wrap up a phenomenal hitting weekend.

Held hit 8-for-10 overall in four games with five RBI, three doubles and a home run.

For their strong performances, Waters and Held were selected as the Bulldog Bash's Most Valuable Pitcher and Hitter. Garza and McNamara were also named to the all-tournament team with Gardner-Webb's Christa Fullwood.

Southern Illinois 9 Gardner-Webb 0 (5 Innings)
McNamara recorded her third-straight shutout, and second of the weekend, to lift Southern Illinois over Gardner-Webb 10-0.

In three starts, totally 17 innings this season, the senior lefthander has only surrendered four hits while not allowing a run. She also has 17 strikeouts with only one walk.

The Salukis broke open a scoreless game in the top of the second with seven runs on five hits to take commanding 7-0 lead.

Garza continued the huge inning with a bases-loaded two-RBI double into the left center gap, and junior Katie Wilson singled to right field to drive in two more runs.

Held finished the highest scoring inning of the season with a RBI double to score senior Katie Wagner.

Southern Illinois added another run in the top of the fourth and fifth innings on Garza and sophomore Cristina Trapani's first home runs of the season to make the final 9-0. SIU set a team season-high with three home runs, and in two games against Gardner-Webb the Salukis outhit the Runnin' Bulldogs 19-3.

Southern Illinois 6 Austin Peay 0
Waters' second straight shutout propelled SIU over Austin Peay 6-0 to keep the Salukis undefeated in 2009. The sophomore's nine strikeouts was one away from tying her career high in the complete-game effort.

Southern Illinois struck in the bottom of the second with timely hits by junior Allie Hanson and senior Jayme Wamsley.

Hanson drilled a double into the right field gap and Held motored all the way home from first base to give SIU a 1-0 lead.

Two pitches later with senior Katie Schmidt pinch running on third, Wamsley kept the offensive momentum going with a RBI single to put the Salukis up 2-0.

SIU scored three more runs on three hits on the bottom of the third.

Wagner delivered a two-RBI single and Hanson lifted a sacrifice fly to score Wagner two batters latter to increase the lead to 5-0.

Junior Katie Wilson put another run on the board in the fifth with a RBI groundout to score Garza from third to make the final 6-0.

It was Southern Illinois' first full seven-inning game of the weekend after winning its first three in run ruled five-inning fashion.

In four games total during the tournament SIU outscored Gardner-Webb and Austin Peay a combined 33-0.

Southern will continue play next weekend at the Elon University Tournament in Elon, N.C. and begin play against North Carolina A & T on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. ET.