Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
19-3, 5-0
Drake
11-16, 2-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
| Drake | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 2 |
Softball downs Drake 2-1 and 6-4 in doubleheader
03/25/2006 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 25, 2006
By Matt Crouch
www.siusalukis.com
DES MOINES, Iowa - Despite being out-hit a combined 17-11 in the doubleheader, the Southern Illinois University softball team (19-3, 5-0 MVC) was able to get its runs when it counted and pull out two wins over Missouri Valley Conference foe Drake (11-16, 2-3 MVC) Saturday afternoon.
The Salukis beat the Bulldogs 2-1 in the first game of the twin bill, and had to come from behind to get the 6-4 win in the second game.
Despite picking up the "W" in both games, SIU Head Coach Kerri Blaylock was disappointed in her team's performance.
"I'm really glad we got two wins. Again, I thought we showed our ability to come back after being behind, but I was a little bit disappointed," said Blaylock. "I thought we were flat offensively. Drake came out and attacked us and hit the ball really well, so I'm glad that we hung on and got the two victories."
Coming into the series with an 11-14 record, it would be easy to overlook Drake as a couple of easy wins, but Blaylock said that she knew better than to discount the Bulldogs.
"I knew they would be tough, they are that kind of team. They are scrappy, they like to hit and run, they put pressure on you. Coach Calvert is a good coach, so I knew that their record was deceiving," said Blaylock.
In the end, it was a theme that has followed the Salukis all season - The Comeback Kids. Even when SIU has been down, the team has been able to find ways to get back into game and come out with the win.
"I thought defensively we did some really good things, but I thought that we showed some heart and we come back. We do know that we can make something happen when we need it and I was really, really pleased with that," said Blaylock.
Action in the SIU-Drake series will conclude Sunday with a single game. The first pitched is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Drake's Ron Buel Field.
Game 1: SIU - 2, Drake - 1
In the first game, it was Petty that proved to be the hero of the game, hitting a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning to give the Salukis a 2-0 lead and the win.
The game was a defensive battle, with both team's infields seeing a lot of action as only two strikeouts were thrown in the entire game.
Sophomore Tiffanie Dismore scored SIU's first run of the game in the top of the first, coming in on an error by Drake second baseman Jamie Desjarlais,
Dismore hit a leadoff single up the middle to get on base and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Samantha Carter.
The Salukis carried the 1-0 lead into the sixth inning, after avoiding a couple scares in the bottom of the fifth.
With a runner on and no outs, Drake's Cassie Heller reached on an error by SIU catcher Jayme Wamsley. Mollie Daniels, who was pinch-running for Susan Slycord, took off around the bases and tried for home.
As Daniels headed for home, she was tagged out by Wamsley. Wamsley stepped up again on the next batter, recovering a long throw from Roney in right field and passing it off to Cassidy Scoggins to make the tag on Heller at home as she tried to score on a single by Kristin Bocci.
After robbing the Bulldogs of two runs in the top of the fifth, Petty stepped up to the plate in the top of the sixth to hit her solo shot to put SIU up 2-0.
Drake countered with a run of its own in the bottom of the sixth as Jamie Desjarlais scored on a double by Emily Hajduk, but it wasn't enough as the Salukis were able to hold on and pull out the 2-1 win.
Petty and Stein led SIU at the plate as they both went 2-for-3. Petty had Southern's only extra-base hit of the game.
Jessica Hicks (5-7) took the loss for Drake. She pitched the complete game, giving up six hits and only one earned run. She did not walk any Salukis, but did not strike any out either.
Cassidy Scoggins improves to 11-3 on the season with the win. She struck out two Bulldogs, giving up two walks. She also gave up six hits and one run.
Game2: SIU - 6, Drake - 4
In the second game of the doubleheader, SIU found itself in a familiar position as the Salukis had to come from behind to get the win.
The defensive battle that started in the first game carried over into the second as neither team was able to score right away.
Drake got a run from Lindsay Larry in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead, but it would be the only run scored in the first five innings.
In the top of the sixth, SIU was finally able to find its spot. With two outs and two runners on, Stein hit a single to left-center to score Wegmann.
Dismore then her third triple of the season off the top of the right-field fence, scoring Scoggins and Stein. Carter followed up the triple with another hit and singled to left field, scoring Dismore to take a 4-1 lead.
The Bulldogs tried to fight back into it in the bottom of the sixth as they scored two more runs to close SIU's lead to 4-3.
Susan Slycord hit a leadoff homerun for the first run. Her home run was followed by a double by Cassie Heller.
Following Heller's double, starter Ashley Hamby was pulled in favor of Scoggins. Scoggins was able to close out the inning, but not before Heller was able to score and send the game to the seventh inning with SIU leading by one.
Haas got things going right away as she hit a leadoff double to give the Salukis a baserunner in scoring position.
Drake's Desjarlais then missed the catch on Louis's sacrifice bunt, allowing Haas to score.
Amanda Clifton scored SIU's sixth and final run of the game before the inning was out. It was Desjarlais again with the error as she fumbled the ball on Stein's hit, allowing Clifton to score from second base.
Clifton reached base earlier in the inning on a fielder's choice.
Dismore and Clifton each went 2-for-4 in the game to lead Southern Illinois at the plate. They each scored a run with Dismore also getting two RBI.
Hamby improves to a perfect 7-0 with the win while Scoggins picks up her fourth save of the season.
In five innings pitched, Hamby struck out one Bulldog while giving up nine hits and three runs, two of which were earned.
Scoggins struck out two batters while giving up one hit and one run in her two innings in the circle.
Heller pitched most of the game for Drake, striking out one Saluki, walking five and giving up only two hits.
Kristin Birocci gave up all six SIU runs, five earned, in her 1.2 innings pitched. She struck out one batter, walked one and gave up five hits.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hamby, Ashley (7-0)
L: BIROCCI (3-2)
S: Scoggins, Cassidy (4)
Batting:
2B: Haas, Lauren 1 ; Clifton, Amanda 1
3B: Dismore, Tiffanie 1
RBI: Dismore, Tiffanie 2 ; Carter, Samantha 1 ; Stein, Krystal 1
SH: Dismore, Tiffanie 1 ; Louis, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dismore, Tiffanie 1 ; Haas, Lauren 1 ; Clifton, Amanda 1 ; Wegmann, Becky 1 ; Scoggins, Cassidy 1 ; Stein, Krystal 1
HBP: Carter, Samantha 1 ; Petty, Chelsea 1
Batting:
2B: HELLER 1
HR: SLYCORD 1
RBI: LARRY 1 ; SLYCORD 2
SH: FAIDLEY 1
SF: SLYCORD 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LARRY 1 ; COOK 1 ; SLYCORD 1 ; HELLER 1
SB: FAIDLEY 1
