Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball hosts Creighton in weekend series
03/22/2012 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 22, 2012
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team welcomes Creighton for the second week of conference action this Saturday and Sunday at Charlotte West Stadium.
GAME INFORMATION
Southern Illinois Salukis (15-7, 3-0 MVC) vs. Creighton Bluejays (11-11, 2-1 MVC)
Games 23-25 • Carbondale, Ill. (Charlotte West Stadium)
Saturday March 24: 12 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Sunday March 25: 12 p.m.
Radio: Game Central on SIUSalukis.com with Patrick Erickson (play-by-play) and Johnny Sole (color)
Video: Game Central on SIUSalukis.com (pay)
Stats: Gametracker from SIUSalukis.com
WEATHER
Saturday: High: 65, scattered thunderstorms (50%)
Sunday: High: 73, partly cloudy
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Saturday, March 24
Women intersport Network Day
Camper Reunion
Sunday, March 25
Scout Day
Kids Run The Bases Day
-All children through the 8th grade will run the bases after the game
SERIES HISTORY
The Bluejays lead the all-time series 27-19. The two teams did not meet in 2011 as a snow storm moved through in Omaha, Neb. to cancel the series.
ON DECK: CREIGHTON
The Bluejays opened up MVC action as they took two wins from Bradley in Peoria, Ill. In non-conference action, Creighton went 9-10 after a scheduled doubleheader versus Iowa State was rained out Tuesday. They rank second in the MVC with a .291 batting average, which ranks second behind the Salukis. The Bluejays have five hitters hitting above .300 led by sophomore outfielder Ellen Homan who holds a .375 batting average with four doubles, a triple, and seven RBI. Amy Baker leads the team with 27 RBI and a .338 batting average. In the circle, they are led by ace Becca Changstrom with a 3.92 ERA and 5-6 overall record.
RENEWING THE RIVALRY
SIU and Creighton will meet once again for the first time since 2010. That year, SIU took two games in the regular season series in Carbondale while the Blue Jays took two games in the MVC Tournament including the conference championship game. They have not met since that championship game on May 15, 2010 in Springfield, Mo. Neither team has swept the series since 2008 when Creighton took three from the Dawgs at Charlotte West Stadium.
BUST OUT THE BROOMS - AGAIN
The Salukis opened Missouri Valley Conference action with a sweep of Wichita State in Wichita, Kan. over the weekend. The Dawgs overpowered the Shockers in 11-8, 5-0, and 7-1 victories to sweep the them for the second consecutive year to open league play. They swept the Shockers for the first time in consecutive years since 1990-91 as they also took three from them in to open up play in 2011.
THEY'RE BACK
After strong freshman campaigns, sophomore infielders Jayna Spivey and Taylor Orsburn struggled before coming into conference action. But the duo came alive at the plate against Wichita State as Spivey lifted the Dawgs in the series finale going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Spivey also hit a home run in Saturday's doubleheader victories and went 6-for-10 on the weekend with a 1.000 slugging percentage. Orsburn, who was hitting .209 coming into the weekend, went 5-for-11 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, six total bases, and a walk.
DON'T BE FOOLED
If you take a look at the stats from the Salukis' series against Wichita State, you might think that third baseman Kelsea Ashton didn't get much playing time as she went 2-for-4 in three games. However, Ashton was key in the Salukis' success as she played all 21 innings in the series. At the plate, she laid down four sacrifice bunts and drew four walks while also managing two hits and two runs scored. On the season, the Carterville, Ill. native is batting .309 with four doubles, one home run, and nine RBI.
AMONG THE LEADERS
In the national statistics, the Salukis are ranking among some of the country's leaders at the plate:
- Kelsea Ashton is ranked third in sacrifice hits (11, .50 per game), 25th in toughest to strikeout with two strikeouts on the season, and 19th in walks drawn (18, .82 per game).
- Allie VadeBoncouer is ranked 19th in RBI (27), fourth in hit-by-pitch per game (12, .55 per game), and tied for 25th in on-base percentage (.549).
- Mallory Duran-Sellers ranks 13th in walks drawn (19, .86 per game), 28th in on-base percentage (.545) and 11th in runs scored (26, 1.18 per game).
