Southern Illinois University
29-7, 9-1
Evansville
29-11, 4-6
Softball Sweeps Evansville With 2-0 Win In Nightcap
04/07/2004 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 7, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUsalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The combination of freshmen Cassidy Scoggins and Amanda Clifton helped Southern Illinois (29-7, 9-1 MVC) complete a doubleheader sweep over Evansville (29-11, 4-6 MVC) with a 2-0 win in the nightcap on Wednesday.
Scoggins (9-2) threw a two-hit, complete game shutout with a career-high 10 strikeouts and Clifton hit a two-run home run to provide all the scoring in SIU's 14th straight win at West Stadium.
The freshman hurler allowed a leadoff double in the first inning to open the game, hit the next batter and then began to settle down. After a passed ball moved the runners to second and third with no outs, Scoggins induced a groundout to third, holding the runners. SIU intentionally walked Evansville's Brooke Luker, who had the only two hits off Amy Harre in the first game, to load the bases. Scoggins struck out the next two hitters to end the inning and Evansville's only threat of the game.
The Salukis didn't need to score much for Scoggins, who only allowed two walks and a single after the first inning, retiring 13 of the last 14 batters. She struck out five of the last six to end the game, including three strikeouts in the seventh inning.
"Cassidy had a great performance our second game. I think she benefits from Amy Harre setting the tone and then she (Scoggins) comes in and puts the dagger in. She threw great, mixing her curve and her rise ball very well, and used all her pitches. She did a good job," added Blaylock.
With the game still scoreless in the fourth inning, Clifton hit her first college home run. Katie Louis reached on a fielder's choice and with two outs, Clifton crushed a 2-2 pitch over the leftfield fence for the winning runs.
"Amanda Clifton stepped up and got a big hit. She's been a consistent .260 to .270 hitter and did a great job today. Her first career home run was an awesome one," said an excited Blaylock.
Scoggins struck out the ten batters and allowed three walks and the two hits in her best college performance.
Evansville's Casey Clutch (14-5) allowed two runs, a walk and five hits with three strikeouts in six innings to suffer the loss.
Clifton (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, run), Maria Damico (1-for-2), Haley Viefhaus (1-for-3) and Adie Viefhaus (1-for-2, run) led SIU at the plate.
The Salukis moved up their series with Illinois State from the weekend and will host the Redbirds in a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, followed by a single game on Saturday at 12 p.m. to wrap up the series due to expected poor weather.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Scoggins (9-2)
L: Clutch (14-5)
Batting:
2B: Winters 1
Base Running:
HBP: Laraway 1
Batting:
HR: Clifton 1
RBI: Clifton 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Louis 1 ; Clifton 1
SB: Bonnell 1
