Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball hosts Wichita State for Strike Out Cancer games
04/05/2013 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 5, 2013
| Southern Illinois (14-18, 2-5 MVC) vs. Wichita State (14-18, 5-3 MVC) | |
| Dates | Saturday, April 6 & Sunday, April 7 |
| Times | Saturday, 12 p.m. (DH) / Sunday, 12 p.m. |
| Location | Carbondale, Ill. - Charlotte West Stadium |
| Audio/Video | 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 welcomes Wichita State to Charlotte West Stadium for a three-game series Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's games will mark SIU's annual Strike Out Cancer Event.
SIU VS. WICHITA STATE
SIU leads the all-time series between the two schools 47-23 and the Salukis have won the last six matchups. The Shockers come into the matchup at 14-18 overall and 5-3 in the MVC. WSU took two of three from Evansville last weekend in Wichita. Ali Vandever leads the Shockers with a .267 batting average on a team-high 24 hits. Vandever is also second on the team in runs scored (13) and third on the team in RBI (10). Brianne Bond leads WSU with 15 RBI to go along with 18 hits and a .261 batting average while Hayley Temple (.242 avg, 23 hits) and Melanie Jaegers (.241 avg, 19 hits, 17 runs scored) have also been solid offensive contributors. Sloan Anderson (11-6) leads the Shockers pitching staff with a 2.73 ERA to go along with 54 strikeouts while Katie Armagost (3-12) is close behind with a 2.74 ERA with a team-leading 62 strikeouts. The Shockers rank 10th in the MVC in team batting average (.231) and ninth strikeouts (190), but rank second in the league in team ERA (2.99).
LAST TIME THEY MET
SIU swept the Shockers in three games last season in Wichita. The Salukis took 11-8 and 5-0 wins in a doubleheader before capping off the series with a 7-1 win.
SALUKIS STRIKE OUT CANCER
Saturday's games will mark SIU's annual Strike Out Cancer event. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game to promote cancer awareness. There will be a raffle and a silent auction during the game with proceeds benefitting Southern Illinois Healthcare's Hope is Home campaign. Fans will have a chance to catch special Strike Out Cancer T-shirts, and there will also be special Strike Out Cancer items available for purchase.
LAST TIME OUT
After winning their series last weekend against Illinois State 2-1, the Salukis dropped a pair of non-conference midweek games 6-4 to SIU Edwardsville Tuesday in 12 innings and 8-0 to Eastern Illinois Thursday in five innings. The Salukis rallied from an early 4-1 deficit to force extra innings at home Tuesday against the Cougars before falling after SIUE picked up a two-run homer in the 12th inning. Southern managed just one hit and struck out 12 times in Thursday's road loss to the Panthers.
HOME SWEET HOME
SIU is amongst a stretch where the Salukis will play seven of nine games at Charlotte West Stadium, continuing a home-heavy portion of the 2013 schedule. Due to some cancellations and venue changes, SIU played 10 of 15 games at home during the month of March.
BARCHAN TOPS HIT LIST
Senior outfielder Morgan Barchan is MVC leader in hits through Wednesday with 41 for the season. The Arcadia, Calif., native ranks third in the MVC with a .390 batting average. Southern's leadoff hitter, Barchan leads SIU with a .471 on-base percentage and is tied for first on the team with 24 runs scored.
SWINGING FOR THE FENCES
With eight home runs in its last four games, SIU is up to 26 homers for the season. That total through 31 games is just seven shy of the team's long ball tally from last season. Six Saluki players ( Michelle Bradley, Morgan Barchan, Kalyn Harker, Taylor Orsburn, Jayna Spivey and Meredith Wilson) have either equaled or bettered their home run totals from last season.
BASES FOR FREE
Southern leads the MVC in drawing free bases through last week's games. The Salukis have drawn an MVC-best 126 bases on balls and Illinois State (121) is the only other team in the Valley with more than 105. Additionally, the Salukis' 36 free bases on hit by pitches is the league leader.
