Softball closes fall season with Saluki Invitational
09/22/2005 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Sept. 22, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - After two weeks on the road, the Southern Illinois University softball team will wrap up its fall season this weekend, Sept. 24-25, by hosting the Saluki Invitational. John A. Logan College, Rend Lake Community College and the University of Southern Indiana will make the trip to Carbondale for the two-day tournament.
"It's going to be great. You get to sleep in your own bed, play in your own facility and let your own fans see you," said Saluki head coach Kerri Blaylock. "We're excited that we are going to wrap up this weekend at home."
The Dawgs enter the weekend sporting a 9-1 record in fall play.
SIU went 4-1 at the Illinois State Fall Tournament, Sept. 10-11, with the lone loss from from Illinois State, 7-3.
The Salukis dominated the Kirkwood Fall Invitational, Sept. 17-18, giving up only one run in their five games.
With the team's success through the fall, Blaylock is looking at this weekend as a way to make a few last tweaks or adjustments to get the team ready for the spring.
"We need to make sure that we are seeing all the people in all the positions that we want to see them in. Make sure that we do some lineup changes," said Blaylock. "We might switch the batting order a little bit and see some kids in different RBI spots or different places.
"We just want to make sure that we go into our off-season feeling good about ourselves and what we have done in the fall."
SIU opens the weekend with a 2 p.m. game Saturday against John A. Logan College, followed by a 4 p.m. game against Southern Indiana.
The Salukis will face Rend Lake Community College Sunday at 12 p.m.
Following SIU's game against Rend Lake, seeds will be determined for the final two games.
The No. 3 and No. 4 seed will face each other at 2 p.m. with No. 1 and No. 2 playing at 4 p.m.
With the team's recent performances, Blaylock is excited to bring the team home for its last weekend.
"I'm really happy with Becky Wegmann and the way she is hitting the ball after she did not hit the ball that well her freshman season," said Blaylock. "I think the freshmen as a whole class have showed that they are able to play at this level.
"Ashley Hamby has been throwing the ball really, really well and Cassidy Scoggins has picked up from where she left off last season."
An important factor to the team's success has been the performance of its four seniors.
"I'm really happy with the seniors and their leadership. I was really curious to see what the senior class would and their leadership and where they've hit in the lineup and what they have done," said Blaylock. "I'm very pleased with that. I think overall there are a lot of good things that have come out of it so far."
All games will be played at SIU's Charlotte West Stadium with admission $3 per person each day.
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.
Complete Saluki Invitational schedule
Saturday, Sept. 24
12 p.m. - Rend Lake C.C. vs. John A. Logan College
2 p.m. - SIU vs. John A. Logan College
4 p.m. - SIU vs. Southern Indiana
6 p.m. - Rend Lake C.C. vs. Southern Indiana
Sunday, Sept. 25
10 a.m. - Southern Indiana vs. John A. Logan College
12 p.m. - SIU vs. Rend Lake C.C.
2 p.m. - No. 3 vs. No. 4
4 p.m. - No. 1 vs. No. 2
SIU games in italics