Softball continues fall play at Kirkwood Fall Tournament
09/15/2005 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Sept. 15, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University softball team will pack its bags and hit the road again this weekend as the Salukis travel to Kirkwood, Mo., for the Kirkwood Fall invitational. The Dawgs will see action against five teams in the two-day (Sept. 17-18) tournament.
The tournament is the second of three fall tournaments for SIU. The Salukis posted a 4-1 record last weekend at the Illinois State Fall Tournament. The team recorded wins against Parkland College (8-0), SIU-Edwardsville (6-5), Illinois Central College (13-2) and Western Illinois (5-3). The lone blemish was a 7-3 loss to Illinois State.
"We had some kids really do well. Our batting average as a team is something like .370 after last weekend," said Saluki head coach Kerri Blaylock. "I think everybody that I needed to see got to play four games last weekend. They did some different things, played in different positions. We've got a lot of flexibility on the team and that is what we want to have."
The Dawgs return to familiar territory in the Kirkwood Fall Invitational. The team went 5-0 af the tournament last year, giving up only five runs over the five games played.
"We like to go up there (Kirkwood) because the majority of our players are from around there and it is also a huge recruiting base for us," said Blaylock. "We get a lot of summer league players/coaches come out and see us. It's also good competition and we'll get some good games out of it."
The Salukis are taking on a demanding schedule this weekend. The Dawgs have three games Saturday, opening up against Saint Louis University at 12 p.m. SIU then takes on Southeast Missouri at 2 p.m., followed by the University of Missouri-Rolla at 6 p.m.
SIU plays the first of its two Sunday games at 10 a.m. against McKendree and closes out the tournament against SIU-Edwardsville at 2 p.m.
"You always like playing Division I teams like Saint Louis and SEMO. I wouldn't say they are rivalry games but the girls know the girls on the other teams and we like playing them," said Blaylock. "Missouri-Rolla is a very good Division II team and SIUE is a very, very good DII team. We won a battle with them last week and they went on to beat Illinois State, so we are looking at some good competition."
Blaylock was pleased with the team's performance at the Illinois State Fall Tournament and is looking for her team to keep improving.
"You are looking for all of the regular position players to keep doing good things. Becky Wegmann did a great job hitting the ball. Lauren Haas did too, as well as Lauren Roney, Samantha Carter and Katie Louis," said Blaylock. "All those guys were very consistent and hitting the ball. You just want them to keep going so you can establish some kind of batting order and get ready for the spring."
SIU is coming off of three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and Top 25 rankings the last three years, which are both first-time accomplishments in school history.
Kirkwood Fall Tournament Schedule
9/17 - 12 p.m. - Saint Louis University
9/17 - 2 p.m. - Southeast Missouri
9/17 - 6 p.m. - University of Missouri-Rolla
9/18 - 10 a.m. - McKendree College
9/18 - 2 p.m. - SIU-Edwardsville