Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball visits league leading Illinois State for weekend series
04/29/2011 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 29, 2011
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
Game Information
Southern Illinois Salukis (32-13, 14-3 MVC) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (31-14, 17-3 MVC)
Games No. 46-48 • April 30-May 1, 2011
Bloomington, Ill • Marian Kneer Stadium
Radio: Saluki Game Central (Play-by-play with Patrick Erickson)
Stats: Gametracker or stats.siu.edu
ON DECK: ILLINOIS STATE
Last time they met: April 17-18, 2010 in Carbondale, Ill. where the Redbirds took the series 2-1 with 1-0 and 11-2 losses on Saturday, but picked up the series finale with a 2-1 victory.
All-time record: ISU leads the series 53-45.
SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS
In what could possibly be the deciding series for the regular season MVC title, the Salukis and Redbirds will likely battle in a tough three game series in Bloomington. With Drake losing to Creighton on Wednesday, it moved the Salukis up into second place prior to the weekend series. ISU leads the league in multiple categories including team batting average (.301), slugging percentage (.537, and home runs (62). They are led by Kara Nelson with a .408 average, nine doubles, three triples, four home runs, and 22 RBIs. Elizabeth Kay leads the team in RBIs with 43, while Abby Olson maintains a .718 slugging percentage with 10 doubles and 33 RBIs. They also boast an impressive home record of 10-1, with their only loss coming on April 5 against UNI.
GLOSSON TOSSES NO-NO TO TAKE SERIES FROM UE
Danielle Glosson threw her second career no-hitter in a 9-1 victory over Evansville on Tuesday. Glosson's no-no was the first recorded at Charlotte West in four years when Ashley Hamby accomplished the same feat against Missouri State on April 15, 2007. With the win, the Salukis picked up the series victory over the Aces, who they split with a week earlier in Evansville.
HEAVY HITTERS
The Salukis boast three of the top five highest batting averages in the league including Mallory Duran leading the MVC with a .423 while Taylor Orsburn (.355) and Morgan Barchan (.344) come in the No. 4 and 5 best averages in the conference.
BLAYLOCK APPROACHING 450
Head coach Kerri Blaylock is fast approaching the 450-win mark in her career. Currently, she has amassed 448 career wins and is just two away from the historic mark.
SPIVEY BLASTS HER WAY INTO RECORD BOOKS
With her grand slam against SIUE and two run shot versus Evansville, freshman second baseman Jayna Spivey moved to eighth place for single season home runs with 10 overall this season. The single season record for home runs is 14, set by Katie Jordan (2005), Maria Domico (2005), and Katie Wilson (2007).
CHASIN' RECORDS
Mallory Duran tied the single season record for runs scored with league leading 50. The record is held by Becky Lis who scored 50 in 1997. Taylor Orsburn is the newest member of the single-season record club as recorded her 43rd RBI, putting her in sole possession of fifth in a single season. The current single season record is 51 set by Katie Wilson in 2010.
NATIONALLY RANKED
Danielle Glosson is making a name for herself nationally as she is ranked in three different pitching categories. She ranks tied for 11th in shutouts (9), tied for 11th in saves (4), and tied for 24th in victories (21) and a winning percentage of .714. Her four saves also matches her total career high in the category. Mallory Duran also ranks 19th in the country for runs scored per game with an average of 1.07 per game.
SUCCESS AT CHARLOTTE WEST
With Tuesday's conference win over Evansville, the Salukis extended their home win streak to nine games dating back to March 30 when they swept Saint Louis in a doubleheader.
STREAKIN'
With Tuesday's no-hitter against Evansville, Danielle Glosson improved her own win streak to 10 straight games. The last time the Winston-Salem, N.C. native lost a game was on April 3 at Northern Iowa.
