Southern Illinois University
Indiana St
Softball Blanks Indiana State, Blaylock Gets 100th Win
04/14/2002 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 14, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - Kerri Blaylock won her 100th career game as head coach earlier today when Southern Illinois (23-12, 10-4) beat Indiana State (11-25, 2-14) by a score of 6-0 at IAW Fields. The Salukis, who took the series, 3-0, have won four straight games.
Blaylock, who moved to 100-53 all-time in her three seasons at the Saluki helm, became the quickest head coach in SIU softball history to win 100 career games. She surpassed former head coach Kay Brechtelsbauer (1977-82) who coached nearly six seasons before posting her 100th career win.
Senior Jen Guenther went a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI to lead SIU, who once again made light work of the Sycamores.
SIU scored a pair of runs off four hits in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Adie Viefhaus led off with a single to left and went to third on a double by Katie Jordan. Kelly Creek then followed with a single which plated Viefhaus, before Guenther drove home Jordan with a liner to left.
The Salukis would add to their lead in the bottom of the second when Tahira Saafir drew a lead off walk and stole second to get into scoring position. With Amy Harre at the plate, an error by third baseman Jill Weiss then allowed Saafir to score making it 3-0, SIU.
Two more hits led to a couple more runs in the bottom of the third as Maria Damico hit a one-out double to left before scoring on another Guenther hit. Guenther would then come home easily on a wild pitch by Cassie Reeser.
Ahead by five, Harre stepped up in the bottom of the fourth and blasted her second home run of the series over the left field wall. Harre's bomb, which marked her second in just six at-bats this season, put the Sycamores away for good, 6-0.
In addition to her offensive efforts, Harre (12-8) picked up the win on the mound where she pitched her 15th complete game of the season. In seven innings, she struck out six batters on a three-hit shutout.
Reeser suffered the loss inside the circle for the Sycamores. In six innings pitched, she allowed eight hits, while striking out three batters.
Offensively, SIU scattered eight hits led by Guenther's three. Harre, A. Viefhaus, Jordan, Creek and Damico followed with one apiece to round out the attack.
After the weekend, which saw SIU average 10 hits in each of its three games against the Sycamores, the Salukis boosted their team average to a season-high .233.
SIU will return to action on Wednesday, April 17 when it hosts Evansville in a doubleheader at 2 p.m.
