Southern Illinois University
32-9
Saint Louis
16-31
Softball Sweeps St. Louis With 4-0 Win In Nightcap
04/14/2004 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 14, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki senior Jenny Doehring led off the nightcap with her second home run of the day and added a double and two RBI, leading SIU (32-9) to a 4-0 win and a doubleheader sweep of St. Louis (16-31) on Wednesday at West Stadium. The win moves Southern Illinois to 32-3 all-time against Saint Louis and 17-2 at home in 2004.
"The kids came out today and really got after it. I was proud of the effort, they played well. They were very focused and Amy Harre (one-hitter in game one) set the tone early," said an excited Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
Doehring, who was moved to the leadoff spot for the second time this season, opened the game with her second home run of the day and the year after a grand slam in game one for a quick 1-0 lead.
"Jenny gave us a boost today and that's what we look for from her. She has a great strikeout-to-walk ratio and does a good job as a leadoff, even though she's a typical number three hitter. I hope she takes off now. She's a very talented athlete," added Blaylock.
After three scoreless innings, SIU added two more runs in the fifth inning. Alex Pepin, starting just her fourth game this season, opened the frame with a sharp double to leftfield. She advanced to third on a throwing error on a fly out to leftfield. Doehring ripped a double to centerfield, driving in Pepin. Katie Jordan doubled with two outs to score Doehring for a 3-0 lead.
Pepin was at it again in the sixth inning, doubling off the rightfield fence with two outs to drive in Cassidy Scoggins for a 4-0 lead.
"I was so proud of Alex Pepin. She trying to get me to notice her and get more time and she hit the ball pretty well tonight," said Blaylock.
That was more than enough for SIU starter Ashley Hamby (6-1) and Alison Thompson (save), who combined for a two-hit shutout. Hamby went 5.1 innings, allowing two hits and a walk with five strikeouts for the win. Thompson came on in relief in the sixth inning with one out and runners at the corners. She struck out a batter and forced a ground out to end the inning.
"Hamby did a great job getting out of the first inning (SLU hit & SIU error) and settling down. We put Thompson back in her role and she did a good job," Blaylock stated.
In the seventh inning, Thompson struck out the first two batters and forced a pop out to end the game. The senior threw 12 straight strikes in relief before throwing a ball to the final batter before the pop up. She pitched 1.2 innings of hitless, scoreless relief to get her MVC-best fifth save.
SLU's Nielsen (13-18) allowed five hits, four runs and four walks in six innings to suffer both losses on the night.
Doehring (2-for-2, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Pepin (2-for-3, RBI, run) and Jordan (1-for-3, 1 RBI) carried SIU offensively in the nightcap.
The Salukis travel to Wichita State this weekend for a three-game series and face Kansas on the road Monday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hamby (6-1)
L: Nielsen (13-18)
S: Thompson (5)
Batting:
2B: Doehring 1 ; Jordan 1 ; Pepin 2
HR: Doehring 1
RBI: Doehring 2 ; Jordan 1 ; Pepin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Doehring 2 ; Scoggins 1 ; Pepin 1
SB: Viefhaus, H. 1
CS: Bonnell 1
