Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball resumes MVC action at Missouri State
04/13/2012 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 13, 2012
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team will head to Springfield, Mo., for a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series with Missouri State Saturday and Sunday.
Southern Illinois Salukis (24-11, 9-3 MVC) vs. Missouri State Bears (17-17, 5-7 MVC)
Games 36-38 • Springfield, Mo. (Killian Stadium)
Radio: Game Central on SIUSalukis.com with Patrick Erickson (play-by-play)
Video: Bears All-Access
Stats: Gametracker ( | | )
SERIES HISTORY
All-time record
The Bears hold a slight advantage, 40-36, in the all-time series. The Salukis took the doubleheader in 2011 but rain forced the series finale to be cancelled. The Salukis have won eight straight over the Bears with their last loss coming in 2009 in game one of the three-game series. It also marks the last year the two teams have played a complete three-game series with series in 2010 and 2011 shortened by rain.
WEATHER
Saturday: 78˚, scattered thunderstorms, wind (60%)
Sunday: 71˚, scattered thunderstorms, wind (70%)
ON DECK: MISSOURI STATE (17-17, 5-7 MVC)
Sixth place Missouri State comes into the weekend after dropping a single non-conference game to Tulsa Wednesday. The Bears have dropped six of their last eight as they dropped series to Drake and Bradley in the past two weekends. They have the second lowest batting average in the league (.223) and are led by sophomore second baseman Ashley Brentz with a .337 batting average with three doubles and nine RBI. The pitching staff is strong as senior Natalie Rose carries the load, which as a whole has a third-best 2.73 ERA in the MVC. Rose holds a 1.96 ERA, the fourth-best in the league and owns 126 of the Bears' 166 strikeouts this season.
TRYING FOR NUMBER FIVE
The Salukis have had a successful start to the 2012 MVC schedule as they have taken the first four series from Wichita State, Creighton, Illinois State, and Indiana State. They currently sit in a tie for second with Creighton in the standings, as each has a 9-3 record.
BILLIKENS NO MATCH FOR SALUKIS
The Salukis swept non-conference action with Saint Louis Wednesday. The Dawgs took both games in 4-2 and 9-1 wins. The Salukis used big first innings and capitalized off errors to extend their win streak over the Billikens to 10. They scored all four runs in game one in the first inning and jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one frame in game two behind a solid performance by Brittney Lang who threw five strikeouts in the effort.
EXTRA BASE HITS NOT NECESSARY
In the last nine games, the Salukis have had just seven extra base hits which includes one home run. The other six hits came off doubles and Taylor Orsburn owns the only Saluki home run. It hasn't seemed to faze the Dawgs as they have held a 6-3 record during that time.
SACRIFICE SPECIAL
Sophomore third baseman Kelsea Ashton has been key in the Salukis ability to put runners in scoring position. She currently leads the nation in sacrifice hits with 17 and all have been on sacrifice bunts.
BLAYLOCK WINS 475
With a game one victory over Saint Louis, SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock tallied her 475th career win as a head coach. Blaylock has reached that feat in her 13th season as head coach and currently holds a 476-217 career record.
