Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball hosts Northern Iowa Saturday and Sunday
03/22/2013 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 22, 2013
| Southern Illinois (12-13, 0-2 MVC) vs. Northern Iowa (11-16, 1-1 MVC) | |
| Date | Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24 |
| Time | Saturday, 12 p.m. (DH)/Sunday, 12 p.m. |
| Location | Carbondale, Ill. - Charlotte West Stadium |
| Radio | Streaming online at Saluki All-Access |
| Game Notes | Southern Illinois  |
| Live Stats | Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 |
| Social Media | @SIU_Softball |
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois softball team looks for its first Missouri Valley Conference wins of the season Saturday and Sunday when the Salukis host Northern Iowa for a three-game series at Charlotte West Stadium.
SIU VS. NORTHERN IOWA
SIU leads the all-time series between the two teams 69-25, although the Panthers have won four out of the last seven matchups. UNI enters the matchup with an 11-16 overall record with a 1-1 mark in MVC play after splitting with Missouri State last week. Kristin Lock leads the Panthers offense with a .324 batting average and a team-high tying 23 hits with 10 runs scored while Caitlin Wnek (.280 avg) is tied for the team lead with 23 hits. Micalla Rettinger (.286 avg, 18 hits) leads UNI with 11 RBI while Julia Hunter (.235 avg, 19 hits, 11 runs) is close behind with 10 RBI. Nicole Fisher (.317 avg, 13 hits) leads the Panthers with five home runs and 12 runs scored. UNI features the MVC's returning Most Valuable Pitcher in junior Jamie Fisher. Fisher (8-8) leads the Panther staff in wins, ERA (2.47), strikeouts (72) and opponents batting average (.226). She has pitched 13 complete games with two shutouts.
LAST TIME THEY MET
The Salukis and the Panthers split four games last season with UNI taking two of three during the regular season and SIU picking up a win in the MVC Tournament. The two teams split a regular season doubleheader with UNI winning 2-0 and SIU winning 7-1 before the Panthers won the rubber match 5-0. The Salukis bounced back with a 1-0 upset win in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament. All four games were played in Carbondale.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
This weekend's series against UNI was originally scheduled to be played in Cedar Falls, Iowa, but was moved to Carbondale because of an unfavorable weather forecast in northern Iowa. Despite the change in venue, SIU will still play as the away team and will bat first in all three games. The change could help the Salukis, as they have played much better at Charlotte West Stadium this season. SIU is 5-3 at home and 7-10 when playing in road and neutral site games. Southern averages 8.4 runs per game in home games and 4.1 in games away from Carbondale.
BLAYLOCK GETS 500TH WIN
SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock picked up her 500th career win during the Salukis' doubleheader sweep of Saint Louis Thursday at Charlotte West Stadium. She became the eighth coach in MVC history and the second coach in SIU history (Kay Brechtelsbauer) with 500 wins. Blaylock holds the highest career winning percentage (.677) of the league's 500-win coaches.
LAST TIME OUT
SIU posted a pair of come from behind wins for a doubleheader sweep of Saint Louis Thursday at Charlotte West Stadium. The Salukis trailed 5-0 after four innings in the opener before battling back for the 7-6 win in extra innings. Morgan Barchan went 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Saluki offense while Alyssa Wunderlich picked up the pitching win. SIU fell in an early 3-1 hole in Game 2 before exploding with a 6-run fourth inning to pull into the lead. The Salukis scored four more in the sixth to end the game early with an 11-3 win. Allie VadeBoncouer went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI to pace SIU's offense while Brittney Lang struck out five to pick up the pitching win.
