Southern Illinois University
36-18, 0
Drake
32-21, 0
Softball clinches regular-season MVC title with win over Drake
05/08/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 8, 2010
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Southern Illinois Softball team defeated Drake, 4-2, on Sunday in Des Moines, clinching the Missouri Valley Conference title.
The Salukis (36-18, 20-5) came back from behind for the win over Drake (32-21, 12-13), as both teams battled until the final out of the game.
With runners on first and third in the bottom of the second inning, Molly McClelland singled to right field, driving in a run for the 1-0 lead over SIU.
The Bulldogs held on to their lead for the next two innings, but with their eye on the prize, the Salukis would not go down without a fight.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, back-to-back RBIs from Haley Gorman and Alicia Garza gave SIU a 2-1 lead over the Bulldogs. Katie Wilson doubled to the center field wall allowing two runs to score for a comfortable 4-1 edge. Wilson's two RBIs gives the senior 51 on the season, marking the first time in Southern Illinois history a player has recorded 50 RBIs in a season.
The Bulldogs would not go quietly as they rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Macie Silliman hit a solo home run with no outs to close the gap, 4-2. DU put two more on base, but SIU got out of the inning holding on to its 4-2 lead.
The Salukis battled through the final out of the final regular-season game, before ending the season-long battle for the top spot in the Valley with a much-earned No. 1 finish. SIU put up four runs off eight hits against Drake, while allowing only two runs off four hits.
"It didn't seem like anything was easy," Head Coach Kerri Blaylock said. "The kids really took the challenge knowing we had to win today, that was good."
Duran and Garza both went 2-for-4, being the only Salukis to put up two hits in the series. Garza recorded one hit and one RBI, as the senior sits one away from tying the all-time career RBI record at Southern Illinois.
Danielle Glosson earned the win, improving to 23-12 on the season. She now sits tied with Amy Harre for the No. 4 spot in school history for wins in a single-season. Glosson struck out 10 batters, the third highest mark on the season. The junior struck out 25 on the weekend in 18.1 innings pitched, and allowed only four runs, improving her ERA to 2.15 on the season.
"She's been consistent," Blaylock said. "I feel like we've had good pitching all year, but she's been very consistent and took the challenge."
The Salukis were last named MVC Champions back in 2005, when they posted a 24-3 conference record. SIU's 20-5 conference record this season marks the second time in Blaylock's coaching career that she has led her team to 20 or more Valley wins.
"Anytime you play a long conference season and you can win it, it's special," Blaylock said. "Because that means you have to be good for the long haul. I think we've got some great teams in our league and we feel fortunate to be able to get the job done."
As the top seed, SIU is guaranteed at least two games at the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference tournament next week. A new modified bracket allows the top-two teams a chance to work their way back into the championship game, should they lose their first game. The tournament runs May 13-15 in Des Moines, Iowa and is hosted by Drake University. The Salukis will play their first game on Friday, May 14 at 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Glosson, Danielle (23-12)
L: DeLong, Jenna (17-11)
Batting:
2B: Wilson, Katie 1
RBI: Gorman, Haley 1 ; Garza, Alicia 1 ; Wilson, Katie 2
SH: Hanson, Allie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gorman, Haley 1 ; Garza, Alicia 1 ; HELD, Chelsea 1 ; Junker, Alicia 1
SB: Duran, Mallory 1
CS: Garza, Alicia 1
Batting:
2B: Shields, Bridget 1
HR: Silliman, Macie 1
RBI: Silliman, Macie 1 ; McClelland, Molly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Silliman, Macie 1 ; Duffek, Jaimie 1
CS: Craddock, Torey 1
