Southern Illinois University
18-10
Saint Louis
19-14
Duran, Spivey help Salukis sweep Billikens
03/30/2011 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 30, 2011
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Mallory Duran launched her first career home run in game one as the Salukis swept the non-conference match up against Saint Louis Wednesday.
Duran went 5-for-6 on the day as she hit a solo shot in the first at-bat of the doubleheader for the Salukis, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon as they picked up 3-2 and 5-1 victories against the Billikens.
On the mound, the Salukis (18-10, 3-0 MVC) had two impressive performances from Danielle Glosson and Alex Peters, who combined for 13 strikeouts and allowed just two walks a piece.
"I thought we did a great job today first and foremost on pitching and defensively and offensively I was really impressed with out kids moving runners on the bunts and doing all the little things right," Head coach Kerri Blaylock said.
In game one, Duran and Haley Gorman combined for the Salukis three RBIs to secure the 3-2 win.
Gorman went 2-for-3 with two singles and Duran went a perfect 3-for-3 with the home run and a bunt single.
Duran improved her batting average to .359 on the year and Blaylock credits consistency with the key to her success.
"Mal is consistent in everything in her life from her personality to her play on the field and it's not surprising she is doing so well," Blaylock said.
Morgan Barchan, Allie VadeBoncouer, and Jayna Spivey all added hits in game one as Glosson moved to 11-6 on the year in the complete game effort.
In game two, the Salukis and Billikens (19-14, 4-2 A10) were locked in a scoreless game until Spivey blasted her sixth home run on the season in the fourth inning en route to a 5-1 victory.
"I thought we did the little things well today and our top of the order has been really consistent," Blaylock said.
The Salukis would move one more run across the plate in the fourth off a Duran RBI and scored three in the sixth to win their 18th game of the season.
Michelle Bradley's return to the line up after a two-week stint with pneumonia and mono, proved beneficial to the Salukis as she went 2-for-2 in the effort.
Blaylock credited Bradley's work effort in practice to her successful return to the Salukis line up.
"We believe that whatever happens in practice translates to games and she (Bradley) had a really two or three days of practice (prior to today's games)," Blaylock said.
Duran and Taylor Orsburn added 2-for-3 performances and Sydney Shelton added a hit as the Salukis combined for 16 hits on the day.
Peters went the distance in the win, improving to 6-4 on the season.
The Salukis will look to continue their winning ways as they travel to Northern Iowa for a three game conference series beginning with a Saturday doubleheader at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Peters, Alex (6-3)
L: Kelcie Matesa (7-4)
Batting:
RBI: Rachel Faletto 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kristin Nicoletti 1
SB: Kristin Nicoletti 1
CS: Jessica Buschjost 1
Batting:
2B: Orsburn, Taylor 1
HR: Spivey, Jayna 1
RBI: Duran, Mallory 1 ; Gorman, Haley 1 ; Orsburn, Taylor 2 ; Spivey, Jayna 1
SH: Barchan, Morgan 1 ; Weissinger, Natalee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Duran, Mallory 1 ; Barchan, Morgan 1 ; Spivey, Jayna 1 ; Ashton, Kelsea 1 ; Shelton, Sydney 1
