Softball sweeps doubleheader at Missouri State

Friday, March 19

Springfield, Mo.

5:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

17-10, 3-0

Missouri State

5-15, 0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	3	6	0
Missouri State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1

03/19/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score

March 19, 2010

Box Score

Game Two Box Score

By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Southern Illinois swept Missouri State on Friday, improving to 4-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, 18-10 overall. Missouri State fell to 5-16 overall, beginning conference play at 0-2.

The Salukis earned their eighth shutout of the season with a 3-0 win over Missouri State in the first game of the day. Junior pitcher Danielle Glosson threw her third complete game shutout of the season, helping SIU to a 3-0 start in Valley play.

An eventful second game against MSU left the Salukis on top once again, grabbing an 8-3 win over the Bears. SIU tallied eight runs off 11 hits, including three homeruns. Alex Peters got the start for the Salukis in the second game, with Glosson coming in to relieve after 3.2 innings. Neither pitcher gave up any walks, allowing a combined eight hits and three runs.

Game One - Southern Illinois 3, Missouri State 0

SIU came out strong early, getting on the board in the top of the first inning. At the plate with two outs and an 0-2 count was a situation Alicia Garza took advantage of, hammering a homerun over the left field wall, earning her third homerun of the season.

Missouri State got on base in the bottom of the second with a chance to tie the game. Ashley Knehans drew Danielle Glosson's first walk of the day, and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Bubba Weiss. With the tying run in scoring position, the Saluki defense took action, grabbing the final two outs of the inning to keep a 1-0 lead.

With Mallory Duran on second and Chelsea Held occupying first, Allie Hanson earned her 13th RBI of the season as she singled up the middle to drive in Duran for a 2-0 lead. With two outs on the top of the third inning, Katie Wilson singled to load the bases. Natalee Weissinger ripped one toward second baseman Christa Gammon who made a backhand toss to first baseman Knehans just before Weissinger crossed the base for the final out. The Salukis left three on base in the third inning, but were able to get one more run on the board for a 2-0 lead over the Bears.

Garza was hit by a pitch for the first time this season, taking her base in the top of the fifth inning. SIU kept the scoring trend alive as Wilson shot a line drive down the left field line, driving in Garza from first for an RBI double. That marks the 18th RBI of the season for the senior outfielder.

Garza scored two of the three runs for SIU on the day, going 1-for-2 with one RBI. Wilson went a perfect 2-for-2 with a double RBI, drawing one of three walks from senior pitcher Supak. Glosson struck out eight at the plate, allowing only five hits and walked only one batter.

Game Two - Southern Illinois 8, Missouri State 3

It was déjà vu for SIU in the top of the first inning of game two, as Garza hit her second homerun of the day in the same fashion as she did in the first game. With two outs in her first at-bat of the game, Garza drove one over the left field wall for her fourth homerun of the season.

The Saluki offense continued to shine as sophomore Courtney Kennedy hit her first career triple to start off the third inning with a shot to deep center field. Chelsea Held stepped up to the plate giving SIU a 3-0 lead as she drove a two-run shot over the center field wall for her first homerun of the season. SIU loaded the bases with two outs, but were unable to get any more runs, wrapping up the inning with two runs off three hits.

A sacrifice fly from Alaina Burkhart drove in a run from Kirstin Cutter, who narrowly slid into home to get the Bears on the board. Missouri State earned their first run of the day, SIU still led 3-1.

SIU extended its lead in the fourth inning as Sydney Shelton reached on an error, advancing to second on another error as Kennedy reached first on a fielder's choice. Held stepped up with an RBI double to drive Shelton into home for a 4-1 lead. This initiated a pitching change, as the Bears brought in Natalie Rose to replace Lauren McGinley. Rose did not allow any more runs to cross the plate, getting the final two outs of the inning.

Missouri State battled back in the bottom of the fourth inning, putting two runs on the board to close the gap, 4-3. Danielle Glosson was brought into relieve for Alex Peters, and got SIU out of the inning still possessing a 4-3 lead.

It was a tense situation in the bottom of the fifth inning as Missouri State loaded the bases with one out. Glosson stepped up and took control, striking out two batters to get the Salukis out of a jam.

The Salukis did not allow a one-run lead for long, putting two more runs on the board. Morgan Barchan led off the sixth inning with an RBI double to center field, followed by a single from Held to advance Barchan to third. Garza earned her third RBI of the day with an RBI single to drive in Barchan for a 5-3 lead. With two outs, Weissinger struck out but reached first on a passed ball, Held would score from third on the passed ball, giving SIU a 6-3 lead.

Cristina Trapani hit SIU's fourth homerun of the day with a single shot over the right field wall, giving Southern a 7-3 lead in the seventh inning. Hanson hit her second RBI of the day, with a single shot to center field. Kennedy scored, giving SIU a comfortable 8-3 lead.

Southern Illinois kept the Missouri State offense quiet through the end of the game for a final score of 8-3. The Salukis showcased their offensive skills as well as the depth of their lineup, something Blaylock looks to see more of as the season progresses.

"We talked about being way more aggressive at the plate, and I thought we did a great job," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "When Missouri State would come out and show some life, we came back and did something."

The two teams will wrap up the three-game series, with the final game being played on Saturday at noon.