Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
10-10-1, 0
Wichita State
16-14, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita State | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
| Southern Illinois | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
SIU sweeps doubleheader from Wichita State
03/21/2015 | 12:00:00 | Softball
By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com
Postgame Audio: HC Kerri Blaylock | Merri Anne Patterson
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team swept a doubleheader from Wichita State on Saturday afternoon at Charlotte West Stadium. The Salukis got a solo homer in the sixth from Merri Anne Patterson before starter Katie Bertelsen closed out another quality start in the 4-3 win. In the second game, Southern rallied from an early four-run deficit to win on a Brook Womack walk-off RBI single in the seventh, 7-6.
"We have to go one game at a time," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "Phenomenal wins against a very good team. I thought we showed gutty effort. We had good pitching all the way around. We had timely hitting. We just need to keep going one game at a time."
Southern Illinois (10-10-1, 5-0 MVC) again rallied and won games in its final at bat, marking seven times in 10 wins that SIU has won in its last at bat. In the second game, Southern overcame its third four-run deficit of the season before Womack's walk-off won it in the seventh.
Despite last weekend's sweep to open conference play, Southern entered the game as an underdog against the preseason MVC favorites. Wichita State (16-14, 1-4 MVC) came into the game with the league's best overall record and returned the MVC Player and Newcomer of the Year from last year's MVC title squad. The Shockers led the league in nine offensive categories. But the Salukis were not intimidated and secured a seventh-straight series win over Wichita State.
SIU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the opener, but Wichita State tied the game up with a three-run fourth inning. Just like last weekend's opener against Bradley, starter Katie Bertelsen pitched a gem before (no hits) and after (one hit) the fourth inning, giving Southern a great chance to win despite WSU's three-run fourth.
"We've talked, and she understands that shutouts are a thing of the past," Blaylock said. "We have to keep people close so we can score, and we think we did that."
Just like last year against Wichita, it was Merri Anne Patterson who came through with the game-winning solo home run. Last year, she hit her first home run of the year in the fifth inning of a 2-1 win. Today, she hit her first home run of the year in the sixth inning of the 4-3 win. Patterson played well in both games, going 3-for-5 on the day with a double, home run, three runs scored and two RBIs--and she hosed a runner at home on a potential sacrifice fly in the second game.
And just like last weekend against Bradley, Savanna Dover entered the game in relief in the second game of the twin bill and shut down the opponent. Last week, Dover pitched three scoreless innings to keep Southern within striking distance of a 10-9, 10-inning win. Today, Dover allowed just two earned runs in five innings after Southern got down 4-0 early.
"She did a phenomenal job keeping us right where we needed to be, and honestly, I thought Shaye threw pretty well, too," Blaylock said. "There were a couple of misplays and things of that nature, but overall, it was a very good day for the pitching staff."
In game two, SIU rallied from a 4-0 deficit to take a 6-5 lead in the sixth inning on a Kalyn Harker single. Harker stayed hot--she's hitting .647 in five conference games. After the Shockers tied the game in the seventh after a pair of hit-by-pitches after they got runners on the corners, Shaye Harre led off the bottom half with a double. Patterson sacrificed the runner to third, and Womack hit the bloop walk-off single short of the centerfielder.
"Since there was only one out, I knew that if I got out, the game wasn't over," Womack said. "I was just focusing on putting the ball in play. I wasn't trying to hit a home run. I just wanted to put the ball in play, and she scored."
Bertelsen (8-5) earned the win in both games, and she has earned the win in all five of SIU's conference games this year. Bertelsen is 7-1 in her last eight decisions and has a 2.56 ERA in that time.
UP NEXT: Southern Illinois goes for the three-game sweep tomorrow at Noon CT at Charlotte West Stadium.
NOTES: Head coach Kerri Blaylock notched her 550th career win (all at SIU) in the opening game of the doubleheader...SIU secured its seventh-straight series win over Wichita State...SIU has won the game in its final at bat in seven of the team's 10 wins--and four of the team's five MVC wins...Since moving to the No. 2 spot in the lineup six games ago, Kalyn Harker is hitting .571 (12-for-21) with two doubles, five RBIs, six runs scored and three stolen bases...SIU started MVC play 5-0 for the second time in the last four years (also did it in 2012).
Kerri Blaylock following @SIU_Softball's doubleheader sweep over Wichita State. Salukis improve to 5-0 in MVC play.https://t.co/BMYFPb2ZAu
— Bryce Williams (@Bwilli21) March 21, 2015
The hero in Game #1 @MerriPatterson talks about @SIU_Softball's Doubleheader sweep over Wichita State. https://t.co/BqcqcOlAKX
— Bryce Williams (@Bwilli21) March 21, 2015
great 2 wins with my dawgies🐾 #wontoday #twice pic.twitter.com/NwEo0F4TYO
— Sydney Jones (@S_Jones00) March 21, 2015
Huge MVC twinbill sweep for @SIU_Softball at home over preseason favorite Wichita State. Shockers now 1-4 in the Valley. Anybody's league.
— Mid-Major Softblog (@nsaisoftball) March 21, 2015
Proud of our effort today!! Way to compete Dawgs!
— Kerri Blaylock (@CoachKBlaylock) March 21, 2015
Great team win today, and a big congrats to head coach @CoachKBlaylock on wins No. 550 and 551.
— SIU Softball (@SIU_Softball) March 21, 2015
Video of @brook_womack's game-winning, walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. pic.twitter.com/Kxe4GyF8Os
— SIU Softball (@SIU_Softball) March 21, 2015
Dawgs Win! Dawgs Win! @SIU_Softball sweeps both ends of the double header. Great Job #Salukis! pic.twitter.com/03F2xkfb2O
— Mark Scally (@ScallySaluki) March 21, 2015
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bertelsen, Katie (8-5)
L: Malone, Katie (9-7)
Batting:
RBI: Broyles, Liz 1 ; Wright, Mackenzie 2 ; Mason, Paige 1
SH: Spring, Kelli 1 ; Greenlee, Layne 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fortner, Brittany 2 ; Spring, Kelli 1 ; Williams, Cacy 2 ; Adams, McKenzie 1
SB: Williams, Cacy 1 ; Broyles, Liz 1
CS: Fortner, Brittany 1
HBP: Williams, Cacy 1 ; Broyles, Liz 1 ; Wright, Mackenzie 1
Batting:
2B: Harker, Kalyn 1 ; Harre, Shaye 1 ; Patterson, Merri Anne 1 ; Newbold, Lacey 1
RBI: Harker, Kalyn 1 ; Harre, Shaye 1 ; Womack, Brook 2 ; Newbold, Lacey 2 ; Thomas, Jessa 1
SH: Patterson, Merri Anne 1 ; Fisher, Savannah 1
SF: Harre, Shaye 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harker, Kalyn 1 ; Harre, Shaye 1 ; Heese, Jessica 1 ; Patterson, Merri Anne 2 ; Womack, Brook 1 ; Kimball, Kara 1
SB: Gonzalez, Kelsey 1 ; Patterson, Merri Anne 1
HBP: Fisher, Savannah 1
