Southern Illinoise University Athletics
#25 Softball continues Valley play with doubleheader against Evansville
04/11/2006 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 11, 2006
#25 Salukis (26-7, 8-4 MVC) vs. Evansville Purple Aces (17-16, 4-8 MVC)
Carbondale, Ill. -- April 12, 2006
Charlotte West Stadium
Audio Webcast -- www.siusalukis.com - Thad Jackson
LiveStats -- http://www.siuc.edu/media/SBLivestats/xlive.htm
Head Coaches
Kerri Balylock (265-110 at SIU)
Gwen Lewis (427-372-1 at UE)
By Matt Crouch
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - After dopping its series last weekend agains Missouri Valley Conference leader Missouri State, the #25 Southern Illinois University softball team (26-7, 8-4 MVC) returns home for a mid-week MVC doubleheader against Evansville.
The Purple Aces (17-16, 4-8 MVC) got off to a hot start this season, winning seven of their first eight games this seaso with the only loss coming against #17 Auburn. Since then, Evansville has struggled to find wins, even as it nears the midpoint of the MVC season.
The Aces have three players hitting better than .300 this season.
Leading the way is Brittany Herald, who is hitting .385 (37-for-96) with four doubles, a triple and six home runs.
She is followed by power-hitter Alicia Laraway. She is hitting .383 (36-for-94) with two doubles, a triple and a team-leading 13 home runs. She also leads the team in RBI with 31.
Rounding out the trio is Cassey Kemna. She is batting .310 (27-for-87) with two doubles this season. Kemna and Herald are both slap-hitters.
Laraway also leads the team in stolen bases this season as she has taken nine on 13 attempts.
Leading the Evansville pitching staff is freshman Ashley Hobbs. She has a 2.65 ERA with a 9-7 record. She leads the team with 118.2 innings pitched and she has 90 strikeouts.
Jacki Bradley follows Hobbs in action with 58.2 innings pitched. She has a 5-6 record and a 2.98 ERA with 32 strikeouts.
As a team, the Purple Aces are hitting .259 this season with a 3.10 team ERA.
