Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball heads to Jacksonville State Invitational
02/15/2012 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 15, 2012
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team will continue non-conference tournament play as they travel to Jacksonville State Invitational.
ON DECK: JACKSONVILLE STATE INVITATIONAL
The Salukis visit Jacksonville, Ala. for the three day Jacksonville State Invitational. Participating teams include the host Gamecocks, South Alabama, and Southeastern Louisiana.
JACKSONVILLE STATE INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
2/17 vs. Jacksonville St. 3:30 p.m.
2/18 vs. South Alabama 12:30 p.m.
2/18 vs. Southeastern LA 5:30 p.m.
2/19 vs. South Alabama 12 p.m.
WEATHER
Friday: 63°, partly sunny
Saturday: 55°, 40% chance of rain
Sunday: 52°, 40% chance of rain
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND
The Salukis went 2-1 at the KSU Classic in Woodstock, Ga. to open up the 2012 season with wins over Austin Peay and Mercer while falling to Miami (OH). The Salukis pounded out 28 hits over the weekend, despite the temperature never reaching above 40°.
JSU INVITE QUICK HITS
All-time history vs. opponents
Jacksonville State: First meeting
South Alabama: First meeting
Southeastern Louisiana: 0-1, last meeting at the Florida State Invitational on Mar. 9, 2002 where the Salukis fell 2-0 in eight innings.
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE STATE
The host and OVC favorite Gamecocks are looking to rebound after going 0-4 to open the season at the South Alabama Mardi Gras Invitational. They faced some stiff competition in two SEC opponents (Mississippi State and No. 2 Alabama), Lipscomb and Memphis. They were led by senior Virginia Tech transfer pitcher/outfielder Kristin Graham who held a .462 batting average (6-for-13), a double, triple, RBI, and nine total bases. She took the 8-1 loss to the Bulldogs giving up five earned runs and allowing six walks in just one inning of work.
SCOUTING SOUTH ALABAMA
The Jaguars went 1-3 in their own tournament , the Mardi Gras Invitational, with their lone win against Lipscomb and losses to Mississippi State, Alabama (a 12-1 run-rule loss), and Memphis. Outfielder Brittany Fowler led South Alabama with a .364 batting average (4-for-11) with two home runs, four runs scored, five RBI, and ten total bases. Pitcher Katy Neal picked up the lone win of the weekend.
SCOUTING SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
The Lady Techsters come into the weekend tournament with a 1-4 record at their own Lion Classic. Their lone win came in a 10-2 victory over Northern Illinois as they fell to Akron, Kansas, Northern Colorado, and Southern. They were led by junior first baseman/DP Ariell Van Hook who went 6-for-12 (.500) with a double, home run, three runs, and three RBI. A member of the Southland Conference, Southeastern Louisiana was picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll. Junior outfielder Kelsey Nichols is also a preseason All-Conference selection.
ALL IN
The Salukis used all 17 players on opening weekend, including all six freshman seeing action at the KSU Classic.
FOUR EARN TOURNAMENT HONORS
Four Salukis were named to the 12-person KSU Classic All-Tournament team. Pitcher Brittney Lang, outfielder/DP Meredith Wilson, first baseman Taylor Orsburn, and shortstop Haley Gorman all earned honors with their performances over the weekend.
WILSON SHINES IN OPENING WEEKEND
Freshman outfielder/DP Meredith Wilson wasted no time adjusting to college softball as she led the Salukis at the KSU Classic. The Granite City, Ill. native went 5-for-9 in opening weekend (.556) including three doubles, a home run, five RBI, 11 total bases, drew two walks, and held a 1.222 slugging percentage and .636 on-base percentage. Wilson launched her first career home run in the 8-1 win over Austin Peay, where she went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Against Mercer, she went 2-for-2 with four RBI and started in all three games for the Salukis during the weekend, twice in right field and once as the designated player. Wilson was also named to the KSU Classic All-Tournament team.
COLD WEATHER, NO PROBLEM
Unseasonably cold temperatures didn't stop the Salukis from breaking out the bats. They combined for 28 hits over the weekend and a .333 team batting average. LANG COMES CLOSE TO NO-NO Junior pitcher Brittney Lang threw her first complete game since March 6, 2010 in a one hit, one run win over Austin Peay. Lang held a no-hitter though five innings, giving up her lone hit with two outs in the sixth. She also earned the save, the first of her career, against Mercer coming in for three innings of relief for Katie Bertelsen.
