Southern Illinois University
22-12, 0
Bradley
11-16, 0
Softball sweeps Bradley doubleheader, Blaylock picks up 400th win
04/02/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 2, 2010
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
PEORIA, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Softball team swept Bradley in a doubleheader on Friday at Laura Bradley Park. SIU shutdown the Braves in game one with a 12-0, run-ruled win, followed by a 3-2 victory in game two.
Head coach Kerri Blaylock earned her 400th career-win at Southern, as the Salukis produced a deciding 12-0 victory over Bradley in game one of a doubleheader. Nine of the twelve runs were a result of homeruns, as the Salukis blasted three throughout the first game, including a grand slam from Allie Hanson.
The 12-0 victory marked the fourth shutout of the conference season, as the Salukis have yet to allow a run to cross the plate in game one of a conference doubleheader so far this season. Those shutouts ended up resulting in doubleheader sweeps on each occasion.
"That will always set a tone," Blaylock said. "Three-game series are hard because you get to see a pitcher a lot, and you can make adjustments. You want to be consistent on offense, and today I think our offense set the tone."
The Salukis (23-12, 8-1 MVC) showed off their hitting skills against the Braves (11-17, 2-5 MVC), pumping out a team total four home runs on the day. Senior Katie Wilson earned the first three runs of both games, with three-run home runs to put SIU on the board. Haley Gorman had an impressive performance Friday, earning a at least one hit in each game. The sophomore is on a three-game hit streak since returning to the field from a battle with mono.
Game 1 - Southern Illinois 12, Bradley 0 (5)
The Salukis came out swinging in the top of the first inning with a dominating 6-0 lead to start the game. A three-run home run from Katie Wilson gave SIU an early 3-0 with just one out on the board. Allie Hanson singled, advancing Natalee Weissinger to third who then scored as the ball was bobbled in right field by Julie Sherman. Corinna Gonzalez hit a two-run bomb in her first-at bat of the day, tallying her second home run of the season to give SIU a 6-0 lead heading out of the first inning.
Hanson got in on the home run action in the second inning, with a grand slam to put the Salukis up 10-0. The four-run shot over the center field wall marked Hanson's sixth home run of the season, third in Valley play. As a team SIU has hit four grand slams so far this season.
Weissinger singled, allowing Wilson to score in the bottom of the fourth inning, to put SIU up 11-0. Hanson stepped up with a single to left field, grabbing her fifth RBI of the day as Chelsea Held crossed the plate for a 12-0 lead.
Hanson went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate, with five RBI and two runs, including a grand slam. Wilson went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, helping to propel SIU past the Braves. Weissinger tallied two hits in three at-bats, with one run and one RBI, while Gonzalez garnered two RBI and one run off her second home run of the season.
Danielle Glosson picked up her 12th win on the season, improving to 6-1 in MVC play. The win over the Braves marked Glosson's fourth shutout in conference play, as she allowed only three hits, walking no one and striking out eight at the plate. Glosson has opened up all four conference doubleheaders this season tossing complete-game shutouts in each outing.
Game two - Southern Illinois 3, Bradley 2
Bradley came out on top in the first inning, with an RBI single from Brittany Fairbairn for the 1-0 lead to get things started.
The Braves held on to their lead through the second inning, but Wilson answered in the top of the third with a three-run home run , her second on the day, to give SIU a 3-1 lead.
Fairbairn drove in the Brave's only other run of the day, with an RBI double to close the gap, 3-2. Neither team would score for the remainder of the game, giving SIU the 3-2 win.
Gorman had a team-high two hits in the second game, recording her fourth hit since coming back after missing 19 games. Wilson went 3-for-6 on the day, tallying six RBI, two home runs and three runs.
Glosson got the win in both games, after relieving Alex Peters who got the start in game two. Glosson struck out a total of 12 batters in 9.2 innings pitched on the day. She allowed only six hits, one run and walked only three batters. Glosson is now 13-8 overall and 7-1 in Valley play with one save.
Sitting a 8-1 in conference play, the Salukis have made a statement as Valley play gets underway. Nine players are currently batting above the .300 mark in conference action, while Wilson and Gorman are over .400. As a team SIU is batting .315 and holding opponents to .161, while tallying 129 total bases, compared to their opponent's 43. In addition the Saluki pitching staff boasts a 1.23 ERA, and opponents currently own a 5.82 ERA.
"I feel like we've attacked and come out aggressive," Blaylock said. "Wilson was huge in that second game, with that homerun. But that's how I like to play ball - I like to get runners in scoring positions and hopefully someone will come up with a big hit, and today she did."
The two teams will finish the series tomorrow with a single game at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Glosson, Danielle (12-8)
L: Brandi Ore (2-6)
Batting:
2B: HELD, Chelsea 1 ; Weissinger, Natalee 1
HR: Wilson, Katie 1 ; Hanson, Allie 1 ; Gonzalez, Corinna 1
RBI: Wilson, Katie 3 ; Weissinger, Natalee 1 ; Hanson, Allie 5 ; Gonzalez, Corinna 2
SH: Duran, Mallory 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gorman, Haley 1 ; Duran, Mallory 1 ; Garza, Alicia 2 ; Wilson, Katie 2 ; HELD, Chelsea 2 ; Weissinger, Natalee 1 ; Hanson, Allie 2 ; Gonzalez, Corinna 1
HBP: HELD, Chelsea 1
