Southern Illinois University
Northern Iowa
UNI takes series finale from SIU, 8-0
03/29/2015 | 12:00:00 | Softball
By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Southern Illinois softball team (11-14-1, 6-3 MVC) lost the series finale at Northern Iowa (12-16, 6-2 MVC) on Sunday afternoon at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex, 8-0 in five innings. UNI jumped on Southern with a seventh-run first and completed the run-rule win in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single.
"I have to give credit to Northern Iowa," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "They came out swinging the bats very well, and Chelsea Ross pitched very well. Yesterday, I questioned our intensity level and if we were ready to play in those conditions and on the road. Quite honestly, today I thought we were ready to play. They punched us in the mouth, but Bertie settled down and put up some zeros. We just didn't have an answer for Ross."
For the second time in as many days, Southern's offense was flummoxed by Ross. Merri Anne Patterson singled in the top of the fifth inning--the only hit Southern recorded against Ross in 11 innings this weekend. In MVC play, SIU has hit .326 against everyone else and just .030 against Ross.
With a stiff wind blowing straight out, UNI's fly-ball lineup hit a pair of pop ups that blew out of the stadium in the seven-run first. Starter Katie Bertelsen kept UNI off the board for the next three innings, but Southern couldn't generate anything against Ross.
"They hit some balls up in the air and we didn't," Blaylock said. "(Ross) made us hit some ground balls. It's more our youth. We just have to get used to the Valley schedule."
The trip was Southern's first Valley road series of the year and starts a stretch of four of five road weekends. After starting Valley play 6-0 with two home sweeps, SIU lost all three games at Northern Iowa by the run rule.
"We have to flush that and move on," Blaylock said. "It's a long season. Just as I didn't think we were as good as 6-0; I don't think we're as bad as 0-3. We just have to keep things in perspective and go to work."
UP NEXT: SIU hosts SIU-Edwardsville on Wednesday at 4 p.m. CT before hitting the road again for a three-game set with Illinois State next weekend.
