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Four games ahead for Western Illinois softball at Southern Illinois Coach B Classic

May 1, 2008 on 9:50 pm | In Athletics |

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois softball will travel to the Southern Illinois Coach B Classic, Mar. 1-2, in search of their first win of the 2008 season.

The Kay Brechtelsbauer Southern Classic began in 1992, and is named in honor of longtime Saluki coach, Kay Brechtelsbauer, who coached from the team’s origination in 1968 until her retirement in 1999. During that time she amassed a 633-438-2 record, taking the Salukis to the College World Series four times (70, 71, 77, 78), and to the NCAA Regionals once (91).

This is the 12th year the Salukis have hosted the Southern Classic at Charlotte West Stadium. The Westerwinds (0-5) finished the tournament in the 2007 season with a 1-2 record, taking the first win from Indiana and falling to Ball State and host Southern Illinois. This season, Western will face Bradley, Southern Illinois, Kansas and No. 5/6 Northwestern. For more information, to watch live stats or listen to a live broadcast access the Southern Illinois Web site siusalukis.com.

Southern Illinois (9-4)
Western Illinois will open the first game of the tournament against host Southern Illinois at 10 a.m., March 1. With a 9-4 record, the Salukis are coming off a 6-0 loss to Middle Tennessee State.

In the 13 games played, Katie Wilson has the leading batting average with a .441. The sophomore outfielder has recorded 15 hits in 34 at bats with three doubles, a triple, a home run and seven RBIs. With a 3-1 record, Nikki Waters holds the lowest ERA for Southern with a 2.72. Waters has allowed 44 hits and struck out 27 batters in 159 at bats.

Bradley (3-2)
Following the game against the Salukis, the Westerwinds will face the Braves, who finished the UNLV Louisville Slugger Tournament with a 3-2 record, defeating Wiconsin, UTEP and Oregon. The first losses of the season came to #23 UNLV and Cal State-Bakersfield.

Going 10-for-16 at bat, Jess Boeger leads the Braves at the plate with a .625 batting average, a home run and four RBIs recorded. Pitcher Ashley Birdsong accounts for three of the Braves wins and one loss with a 3.86 ERA.

Kansas (12-4)
The Western Illinois vs. Kansas game at 9 a.m. on Saturday opens the final day of the tournament. Kansas comes to Carbondale off a 10-2 victory over Cal State Northridge at the Houston Invitational, where they finished with a 4-1 tournament record.

Junior outfielder Dougie McCaulley has recorded 17 hits with six RBIs in 48 at bats, which makes her the leading batter for Kansas with a .354 batting average. In the circle is Valerie George, who holds a 0.83 ERA in 42 innings pitched and a 4-1 record.

No. 5/6 Northwestern (7-2)
The Westerwinds will face No. 5/6 Northwestern in their final game of the tournament, Saturday at 1 p.m. Previously ranked No. 2, the Wildcats fell back to No. 5/6 after a 6-2 upset to No. 11 UCLA at the Palm Springs Classic.

Junior infielder Tammy Williams holds the current highest batting average for Northwestern with a .655 average, recording 19 hits, a double, a triple, a home run and three RBIs in 29 at bats. Sophomore pitcher Lauren Delaney holds a 3.63 ERA in 46.1 innings pitched on the season. Delaney (6-2) has struck out 75 batters and allowed only 31 hits in 163 at bats.

Originaly from Source