May 9, 2008

Box Score

Wright State scored four times in the first two innings and, behind the pitching of Sharon Palma, made that stand up for a 5-1 decision over UIC Friday afternoon in the winner's bracket semifinals of the Horizon League Softball Tournament at the Loyola Softball Park in Chicago.

WSU broke out to the early lead with a run in the first. Jamie Perkins led off with a ground-rule double to the gap in left center and went to third on a bunt single by Louie Haney. Jherica Williams walked to load the bases and Kristen Bradshaw followed with a sacrifice fly to center to plate Perkins.

The Raiders tacked on three more in the third. A walk to Allison Cox along with a Briauna Birl bunt hit set the stage for Perkins, who smacked a three-run home run to center, her eighth of the year, to make it 4-0.

Wright State starter Sharon Palma (16-9) pitched out of a two-on, nobody out jam in the fourth but gave up a run in the fifth on a RBI single by Ashlee Ackerman. UIC (24-32) then had a runner reach second in both the sixth and the seventh, but Palma escaped both times unscathed as she scattered six hits for the complete-game win.

WSU scored its final run in the sixth as Bradshaw knocked in Haney with a single to left.

Perkins had two hits and two runs scored to go with her three RBI for the Raiders while Haney and Bradshaw each had two hits.

Wright State, now 31-24 on the season, takes on #1 seed Cleveland State in the winner's bracket final Friday night at 9:00 Eastern.