Southern Illinois University
22-10, 9-3
Indiana State
13-22, 1-11
Softball wins finale 3-1 over Indiana State
04/07/2012 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 7, 2012
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Alyssa Wunderlich won her seventh straight start and Taylor Orsburn had two RBI and some spectacular defense for the Southern Illinois softball team as it took the series finale 3-1 over Indiana State.
The freshman hurler stepped up big for the Salukis (22-10, 9-3 MVC) as she nearly pitched a complete game and earned her ninth consecutive win of the season. Wunderlich struck out two and didn't allow a walk in six and two-thirds innings of work to remain perfect in Valley play.
"Alyssa pitched really well and I was really pleased with Brittney Lang coming in and throwing strikes which is what she needs to do," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said.
The Dawgs struck early with an Orsburn RBI single in the first and Wunderlich held the Sycamores (13-22, 1-11 MVC) silent for a good portion of the game, allowing just one hit in the first four innings.
Indiana State got on the board in the fifth with an RBI double by catcher Olivia Andres to tie the game.
The Salukis retaliated in the bottom of the inning as Morgan Barchan capitalized on an error to score Mallory Duran-Sellers, who had the only other Saluki hit of the afternoon in the inning. Orsburn hit a sacrifice fly to score Barchan for an insurance run.
The Sycamores threatened in the seventh but Orsburn caught a foul fly ball on the first base side and threw out a runner attempting to steal third base.
"Taylor was a third baseman and you can see her arm from that play. She did a great job fielding the ball and throwing across the infield to come up with a big time play," Blaylock said.
Lang would entered with a runner on in the seventh to earn her third save of the year in relief of Wunderlich.
With the win, the Salukis could take sole possession of second place in the MVC, depending on the outcome of the Wichita State and Creighton matchup that began at 2 p.m. A Creighton win would tie the two teams for second place.
The Salukis will have a full slate in action next week beginning with a single game Tuesday against UT-Martin at Charlotte West Stadium. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wunderlich, Alyssa (9-1)
L: Beisser (6-13)
S: Lang, Brittney (3)
Batting:
2B: Beisser 1 ; Dickerson 1
RBI: Andres 1
SH: Scott 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Baumgart 1
CS: Beisser 1
Batting:
RBI: Orsburn, Taylor 2
SF: Orsburn, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Duran-Sellers, Mallory 2 ; Barchan, Morgan 1
SB: Duran-Sellers, Mallory 2
HBP: VadeBoncouer, Allie 1
