Southern Illinois University
32-17, 0
Northern Iowa
26-21, 0
Seniors propel Softball past Northern Iowa
05/01/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 1, 2010
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Softball team earned their seventh conference doubleheader sweep of the season Saturday, defeating Northern Iowa 8-0 and 1-0.
SIU (33-17, 17-4) shut out the Panthers (26-22, 11-10) in game one for a five-inning, run-ruled victory, followed by a 1-0 win in game two for the doubleheader sweep. This marks the first time this season the Salukis have not allowed any runs to cross the plate in either game during a doubleheader.
The seniors were honored following the doubleheader, as Jenene Ebstein, Alicia Garza, Allie Hanson and Katie Wilson were acknowledged for their outstanding Saluki careers.
Danielle Glosson picked up the win in game one, along with her seventh shutout of the season, improving to 20-12 overall. She struck out six, walked none, and allowed only two hits. Alex Peters improved to 10-4 with the win in game two striking out one at the plate, and allowing no runs.
"I was most please with shutting them out," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "They are a good offensive team, they just beat Nebraska and Iowa this week. I thought Danielle and Alex did a heck of a job."
The seniors also played a key part in today's success, as Hanson reached on five of her six at-bats on the day. She tallied four hits, one RBI and two doubles on Senior Day and Wilson tied the all-time record for career RBIs in game one. Garza came up with a walk off single in game one, giving SIU the run-ruled victory.
Southern Illinois 8, Northern Iowa 0
The Salukis gained an early lead in the bottom of the first inning with Wilson and Hanson driving in runs for the 2-0 lead.
A brief rain delay in the third inning did not affect the Saluki offense, as SIU came right back to score three runs in the third inning. Hanson scored on an error, followed back-to-back RBIs from Courtney Kennedy and Mallory Duran for the 5-0 lead.
Junior catcher Cristina Trapani came up big in the fourth inning with a two-run bomb, giving the Salukis a 7-0 lead. Garza produced the game-winning run with a single to center field allowing Alicia Junker to score for the 8-0 win.
Hanson went 2-for-3 with one run, one RBI and an extra-base hit.
"Allie has been having some very confident at-bats," Blaylock said. "When she's patient and gets her pitch, she hits the ball."
Southern Illinois 1, Northern Iowa 0
Both teams remained quiet throughout game two, resulting in a 1-0 win for the Salukis.
The only run of the game was scored as Duran walked, driving in the run for her second RBI of the day. Hanson earned the only extra-base hit of the game, her second on the day.
SIU was patient at the plate, putting up only two hits, but drawing nine walks.
"We knew that Tillett [Melissa] would give us that if we took it," Blaylock said. "We wanted to drive the ball a little better, and wish we would've but we accomplished what we needed to."
Peters tossed a complete-game shutout, picking up her third conference win of the season.
"She threw really well today," Blaylock said. "She threw her game. She threw the pitches she needed to throw and kept it moving around the zone."
The Salukis went into Saturday's competition half a game behind Illinois State. But SIU's doubleheader sweep, put them back in first place after the Redbird's split their doubleheader with Creighton.
SIU will fight to hang on to that No. 1 spot in tomorrow's final game of the series against UNI beginning at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Glosson, Danielle (20-12)
L: Larsen, Jen (13-8)
Batting:
2B: Hanson, Allie 1
HR: Trapani, Cristina 1
RBI: Duran, Mallory 1 ; Garza, Alicia 1 ; Wilson, Katie 1 ; Hanson, Allie 1 ; Trapani, Cristina 2 ; Kennedy, Courtney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gorman, Haley 1 ; Garza, Alicia 1 ; Hanson, Allie 1 ; Weissinger, Natalee 2 ; Trapani, Cristina 1 ; HELD, Chelsea 1 ; Junker, Alicia 1
SB: Wilson, Katie 1 ; Hanson, Allie 1
