Southern Illinois University
17-3, 3-0
Northern Iowa
7-16-1, 0-3
Softball sweeps MVC-opening series, beats UNI 8-0
03/19/2006 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 19, 2006
By Matt Crouch
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - After throwing two clutch performances for the Southern Illinois University softball team in Saturday's Missouri Valley Conference-opening doubleheader against Northern Iowa, junior pitcher Cassidy Scoggins stepped it up again for the Salukis Sunday, throwing a one-hitter to beat UNI 8-0 in six innings.
SIU improves to 17-3 on the season with the win, 3-0 in MVC play, while Northern Iowa falls to 7-16-1, 0-3 in the MVC.
"I thought we did a great job offensively to start out the game and set a tone early. I thought we did that and came up with some big hits," said SIU Head Coach Kerri Blaylock.
"Cassidy threw a great game today, got into a little bit of a lull in the middle but came out and closed it out in the sixth to eight-run rule it. I was really proud of the kids today."
With Sunday's win, SIU gets the sweep over Northern Iowa. Having not lost to UNI since March 24, 2001, the Salukis kept the streak going Saturday with 12-0 (5 innings) and 6-5 wins over the Panthers.
"Well, honestly, it was a good three-game sweep and then it is over with. It's such a long season, we have 24 more conference games and we try to take it one group at a time. We don't try to get too high or too low, just stay with our game plan and take it one game at a time," said Blaylock.
"We are ecstatic about the sweep and we will enjoy it for the day, then we will get back to work. It's great to get a sweep, but like I said, we just need to take it series by series and try to win each series.
Offensively for SIU, Lauren Haas continued on her hot streak of late, hitting a double in her only at bat to score to runners. Sophomores Krystal Stein and Becky Wegmann, who have struggled recently at the plate, stepped up and made some key hits for the Salukis.
Stein went 2-for-2 in the game, scoring one run with two RBI while Wegmann was 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI. Both of Wegmann's hits were doubles, giving her four for the season.
SIU wasted no time getting things going, learning a lesson from the second game of Saturday's doubleheader where the Salukis had to come from behind in the seventh inning to get the 6-5 win.
With two outs and two runners on, senior Katie Louis stepped up to the plate, hitting her first of two hits on the day to score Christina Andrews, who was pinch-running for Chelsea Petty.
Haas also scored on the play after UNI center fielder Mandy Kumamoto fumbled around with Louis's hit, allowing both Louis and Haas to advance on her error.
Wegmann put SIU up 3-0 later in the inning as she stepped up to the plate in a similar situation. Still with two outs and two runners on, she sent her first double of the day to the warning track in right-center, scoring Clare Ford, who was pinch-running for Louis.
SIU didn't slow down in the second inning as Stein and Tiffanie Dismore led off with two-straight singles. Samantha Carter's sacrifice bunt put both Salukis in scoring position, setting up Haas.
With only one out, Haas hit a double to right field, scoring Stein and Dismore to put the Salukis up 5-0.
The Saluki Train didn't stop in the third inning as SIU went up 7-0 with two more runs. Wegmann hit her second double and was followed up Katie Wagner with a single to right field.
Wagner then stole second base to give SIU two runners in scoring position. That set the stage for Stein to step up to the plate and hit her third double of the season, scoring Wagner and Wegmann and put the Salukis up 7-0.
Following Stein's hit, UNI coach Christy Hebert pulled starting pitching Monica Wright in favor of Uju Ibekwe.
Ibekwe held the Salukis scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, a 180 degree change from Saturday when she gave up eight runs in her 1.1 innings pitched in the first game of the series.
The Salukis were finally able to land the game-ending blow in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Ashley Hamby, who replaced designated player Haas in the fourth inning, drew a walk to lead off the sixth. Hamby moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Louis.
Hamby then made her way to third on a single by Amanda Clifton and scored SIU's eighth run on an error by Panther leftfielder Nikki Ferden as she was trying to gather Clifton's hit.
Scoggins earns her 10th win of the season with the victory. She struck out eight Panther batters in her 6.0 innings pitched. She gave up only one hit while throwing two walks.
UNI's Wright falls to 4-9 on the season with the loss. She struck out one batter while giving up eight hits, seven runs and three walks in her 2.1 innings pitched.
Ibekwe struck out six batters in her relief effort. She gave up three hits, three walks and one run, though it was not earned.
SIU returns to action Wednesday, March 22 with a re-match from last year's NCAA Regional against the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo.
"I know that whenever we play a Big 12 opponent, we need to take advantage of it and we know they hit the ball pretty well. We also know they have given up some runs," said Blaylock. "It's a rivalry, we have a lot of St. Louis kids and so we want to go out there and show well. We will be ready to go on Wednesday."
The Tigers are 15-11 this season after falling to #21 Louisville 4-0 on Saturday. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at University Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Scoggins, Cassidy (10-3)
L: WRIGHT (4-9)
Batting:
2B: Haas, Lauren 1 ; Wegmann, Becky 2 ; Stein, Krystal 1
RBI: Haas, Lauren 2 ; Louis, Katie 1 ; Wegmann, Becky 1 ; Stein, Krystal 2
SH: Carter, Samantha 1 ; Louis, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dismore, Tiffanie 1 ; Andrews, Christina 1 ; Haas, Lauren 1 ; Hamby, Ashley 1 ; Ford, Clare 1 ; Wegmann, Becky 1 ; Wagner, Katie 1 ; Stein, Krystal 1
SB: Wagner, Katie 1
