Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball resumes conference play with visit to Northern Iowa
04/01/2011 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 1, 2011
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team will continue conference play as it travels to Northern Iowa for a three game weekend series.
Game Info
Southern Illinois (18-10, 3-0 MVC) vs. Northern Iowa (18-13, 3-1 MVC)
Games 29-31
Saturday April, 2: Noon, 2 p.m (DH)
Sunday April, 3: Noon
Radio: Play-by-Play with Patrick Erickson available on Game Central at SIUSalukis.com (subscription only).
Stats: Gametracker through the schedule page at SIUSalukis.com or stats.siu.edu.
Twitter: @SIU_Softball
ON DECK: NORTHERN IOWA
Last time they met: May 1-2, 2010 as the Saluki swept the three game series at Charlotte West on senior weekend. The Salukis have won all but four meetings in the last ten years. Losses came in 2000, 2001, and 2009.
All-time record: SIU leads 66-22
SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA
The Panthers, who were picked fourth in the preseason conference poll, are sitting at 18-13 overall and in fifth place in the MVC with a 3-1 record. They are coming off a 4-2 victory over in-state rival Iowa State on Wednesday, giving head coach Ryan Jacobs his 100th career win. The Panthers' pitching staff leads the conference in ERA with a 2.36 while leading in the league in the following categories: hits (225), RBIs (130), and home runs (27). They currently maintain a perfect 6-0 record at Robinson-Dresser Field and are led offensively by Hannah Borschel with a .368 average with one home run and 18 RBI. Courtney Dunker leads the team and league in RBIs with 23, while Jamie Fischer leads the Panthers in the circle with a 2.11 ERA and a 17-12 overall record. Last weekend, the Panthers took two from Evansville and prior to that were swept by Missouri State in MVC play.
SWEEPING THE BILLIKENS
In a non-conference match up Wednesday, the Salukis improved their lifetime record against Saint Louis to 40-2 as they swept the doubleheader at Charlotte West. The Salukis won by scores of 3-2, 5-1 against former Saluki associate coach Christy Connoyer, who is in her first year with the Billikens.
DAWGS ADD DOUBLEHEADER
Head coach Kerri Blaylock announced Thursday that the team has added a non-conference doubleheader to its schedule against IUPUI on Wednesday, April 27 beginning at 4 p.m. at Charlotte West Stadium.
SNOW OUT
The Salukis were scheduled to take on Creighton in a three game series on Mar. 26-27 in Omaha, Neb. but snow and cold temperatures forced the series to be cancelled but officials are in talks to reschedule the series if possible.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
In April, the Salukis will play 12 of their scheduled 21 games away from Charlotte West Stadium beginning with the conference series at UNI this weekend. They will travel to Charleston, Ill. for a non-conference game against EIU on the 6th as well as a visit to Tennessee-Martin on the 14th. The Saluki meet Indiana State (Apr. 16-17) and Evansville (Apr. 20) on the road while following up the road swing with a visit to Illinois Sate (Apr. 30th-May 1).
STREAKIN'
The Salukis 1-2 batters, Mallory Duran and Haley Gorman, have seen success at the plate this season, including lengthy hit streaks. Duran has had a hit in the last 14 of the Salukis' 15 games, including a 13 game hit streak from Feb. 27-Mar. 23 while Gorman went 11 games with a hit from Mar. 9-Mar. 30. The duo also holds the two best batting averages on the team, with Duran's .391 (34-for-87) and Gorman's .326 (30-for-92).
BRADLEY BOUNCES BACK
Sophomore outfielder Michelle Bradley is back in a Saluki uniform after a recent diagnosis of pneumonia and mono kept her in the dugout for two weeks. It proved beneficial for the Salukis in game two of their doubleheader with Saint Louis on Wednesday as she went a perfect 2-for-2 as she also started in right field.
ORSBURN BRINGS `EM HOME
Taylor Orsburn is currently leads the Salukis and is tied for second in the league in overall RBIs (21). The freshman infielder is just two behind UNI's Courtney Dunker (23) and tied with Illinois State's Abby Olson who has also drove in 21 RBIs.
GLOSSON SHINES ON THE MOUND
Danielle Glosson, the reigning MVC Pitcher of the Year highlighted opening weekend of league play with as she went 16 scoreless innings against Wichita State, helping the Salukis sweep the three game series. The senior ace held a 0.82 ERA over the week of March 14-20, where she allowed just three runs against No. 13/17 Missouri on Wednesday and shutout the Shockers twice over the weekend series. In 22.0 innings pitched that week, Glosson struck out 17 while holding opponents to a .145 batting average and earning two complete game shutouts and one save. Glosson is currently tied for eight with most shutouts in the nation with six. She also currently leads the league in innings pitched (123.2), wins (11), second in appearances (25), second in saves (3), third in strikeouts (103) and is sixth in ERA (2.15).
