Southern Illinois University
1-1
Michigan
1-0
Salukis split on day one of Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational
02/11/2011 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 11, 2011
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
HOUSTON, Texas - The Southern Illinois softball team opened its 2011 season with a win over Ohio, but couldn't follow up in game two as its fell to No. 8/11 Michigan in the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational.
""The hitting was definitely the bright spot today and all day long we were very good offensively, even in the Michigan game with (pitcher) Jordan Taylor being an All-American I think we still did a good job," head coach Kerri Blaylock said.
Game One: SIU 12 , Ohio 8
In dramatic fashion, Cristina Trapani hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth to give the Salukis a victory in their opening game of 2011.
With the lead bouncing back and forth throughout the entire game, the Salukis led 7-4 into the going into the seventh where Ohio answered right back by scoring four runs in the top of the inning.
The Salukis were able to tie the game 8-8 on a Haley Gorman RBI to force extra innings. Holding the Bobcats in the top of the eighth helped lead to Trapani's 11th career homerun.
"Ohio came out hitting the ball and what I was proud of is that we hung out in there and played well offensively," Blaylock said.
Mallory Duran went 2-for-3 while Morgan Barchan had a double and two RBI. Jayna Spivey went 2-for-3 in her Saluki debut.
Brittney Lang earned the victory for the Salukis while starter Danielle Glosson struck out six in six innings of work.
Game Two: No. 8/11 Michigan 19, SIU 4, 5 innings
The Salukis couldn't keep pace with the nationally ranked Wolverines who pounded out 19 hits en route to a 19-4 victory.
"The debacle that was the Michigan game was more than just pitching it was combined with no making plays that doesn't show up on the statistical sheet," Blaylock said.
The Wolverines took control early and never looked back. All-American pitcher Jordan Taylor threw two scoreless innings before the Salukis were able to answer with on Morgan Barchan and Haley Gorman RBI singles in the top of the third.
Freshman Taylor Orsburn also went 1-for-2 in her first start in her Saluki career. But it was all Michigan after that, as they hit three homeruns in the effort.
"I'm more upset that we let it get away with us, there didn't need to be that many runs put on the scoreboard but I'm more concerned about how we respond and how we play tomorrow," Blaylock said.
Alex Peters made her season debut in the circle for the Salukis in the loss. The Salukis will continue play tomorrow as they face tournament host Houston at 1 p.m. and then matchup with Stephen F. Austin at 5 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: J. Taylor (1-0)
L: Peters, Alex (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Barchan, Morgan 1 ; Gorman, Haley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Duran, Mallory 1 ; Barchan, Morgan 1 ; Ashton, Kelsea 1 ; Orsburn, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: Sappingfield 1 ; Kirkpatrick 1 ; Powers 1 ; Blanchard 1
3B: Evans 1
HR: Ryan 1 ; Chidester 1 ; Lane 1
RBI: Sappingfield 1 ; Ryan 1 ; Chidester 4 ; Lane 4 ; Kirkpatrick 1 ; Powers 2 ; Blanchard 3 ; Knapp 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Evans 3 ; Sappingfield 2 ; Ryan 1 ; Shaw 2 ; Hasselbach 1 ; Chidester 2 ; Virgil 1 ; Lane 3 ; Kirkpatrick 2 ; Powers 2
HBP: Shaw 2
