siuDE.com

The SIU softball team's game against then-No. 5 Northwestern Sunday was just a prelude to the double dose of nationally ranked competition it faces this weekend.

The team will open up play today in the Malihini Aloha Kipa tournament and face the likes of two Top-25 teams as ranked by ESPN.com/USA Today.

The Salukis (10-7) will face off against Eastern Kentucky in their first game of the day at 2 p.m. HT and receive a tougher test later in the evening when they square off against host No. 14 Hawaii at 7 p.m. HT. The other ranked team in the field is No. 24 Washington.

Coming off a weekend at home where the Salukis went 1-3, coach Kerri Blaylock said she is focused on taking each game at a time.

"We just talked about trying to right the ship," Blaylock said. "We realize things in Hawaii will be tough."

Along with two Top-25 teams, the Salukis will also face the Netherlands' national team as it prepares for the Olympics this summer.

Blaylock said she is looking forward to play a team that isn't in the collegiate ranks for a different level of competition.

The Salukis suffered a dent in their lineup during the weekend at home in the Coach B Classic as both senior outfielder Tiffanie Dismore and junior outfielder Chelsea Petty suffered injuries that will keep them on the bench for four to six weeks a piece.

Blaylock said she is incorporating a variety of different players in Dismore and Petty's positions, which could include utility players freshman Chelsea Held and junior Katie Schmidt.

Schmidt has made her presence known to opponents. In 15 games played this season she has recorded a .412 batting average, eight RBIs and four stolen bases.

Sophomore Katie Wilson leads the Salukis' offense with a .386 batting average and five stolen bases in 16 games played while senior Lauren Haas closely follows with a .359 average.

Haas also has three doubles and two home runs. Sophomore Alicia Garza rounds out the top of the standings with 17 RBIs batted in.

Freshman pitcher Nikki Waters leads the pitching staff into the tournament with a 5-2 record and 1.96 ERA in 53 innings pitched.

Senior centerfielder Krystal Stein said pitching has been key for the Salukis but offensively they need to do their part to give relief to the pitchers.

"We have so much confidence in our pitchers but we know we have to have our defense going and score runs every game," Stein said.

Friday the Salukis will face off against Idaho State at 2 p.m HT and the Netherlands national team at 4:00 p.m. HT. They will round out play against No. 24 Washington at 10 a.m. HT Saturday.

Megan Kramper can be reached at

536-3311 ext. 256 or megkram@siu.edu.

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