Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Wraps Fall Play At Stone City Tournament This Weekend
09/25/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Sept. 25, 2003
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University softball team (9-1) wraps up fall play with its toughest competition of the fall at the Stone City Tournament on Sept. 27-28 in Joliet, Ill. The Salukis will face DePaul (#10 in final 2003 poll), Notre Dame, MVC rival Illinois State and Northern Illinois over the weekend at the Stone City Complex.
"I think it's great to have this tournament as our final benchmark of what we need to work on. We're going to play four great teams this weekend. We'll play everyone, pitch everyone and use different lineups and batting orders to see where we're at for this spring and find out what works and doesn't work," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
Although this is a fall tournament, Blaylock says beating the teams in this tournament can have a significant impact on the program.
"I think it would be big to beat DePaul because I respect coach Eugene Lenti (over 700 wins in 22 years, seven Top 25 finishes) and what he's done at DePaul over the years (1999 Final Four, five Top 10 finishes). He was coaching when I played at Evansville and has built a national power, so we would love to beat them. To say you beat Notre Dame from a recruiting standpoint whenever you play them is great for recruiting. You don't want Illinois State to get one up on you. Last year they beat us in the fall and we won two of three in the spring and it'll be a battle with them as long as I'm here."
Playing at the Stone City Tournament in the Chicago area also provides SIU with a chance to promote the softball program and help recruiting.
"This helps with our recruiting because we'll have a lot of Chicago area kids out there watching us. Last year we lost to Bradley, Illinois State and Western Illinois on one day in the fall and look where we ended up. It can tell you where you're at and what you need to work on. Wins and losses aren't as important but from a recruiting standpoint you want to do well," added Blaylock.
SIU outscored its five opponents 35-2 and won four of five games last week at the Kirkwood Exposure Tournament, but the Salukis lost their first game of the fall to Truman State 1-0. Despite posting three shutouts out and allowing just 14 hits in five games, Blaylock is looking for a consistent effort throughout the weekend.
"We realized after the loss to Truman State that we didn't come out the way we should have and they're working really hard to put on a good show in the Chicago area. We want consistency, good pitching, good defense and timely hitting at this tournament," stated Blaylock.
On Saturday, SIU will face Northern Illinois at 4 p.m. and Notre Dame at 5:45 p.m. The Salukis begin Sunday with an 8:15 a.m. morning tilt with DePaul, followed by the 10:00 a.m. finale with Illinois State.
