Illinois State's five home runs down SIU, 10-2

Friday, April 3

Normal, Ill.

4:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

12-15-1, 0

Illinois State

17-19, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	0	2	0	0	0	2	6	1
Illinois State	2	4	4	0	X	10	12	0

04/03/2015 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score

April 3, 2015

By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com

Box Score

NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State hit five home runs en route to a 10-2 five-inning win over Southern Illinois on Friday afternoon. SIU fell to 12-15-1, 6-4 MVC and Illinois State improved to 17-19, 8-2 MVC.

"They're a great offensive team," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We have to be able to understand that we need to be able to play an offensive game. It needs to be a baseball-type score. We need to be able to play a 9-8, 8-7, 7-6 game and be OK with that."

Illinois State came into the game leading the Missouri Valley Conference at 7-2, and its potent offense led the league in nearly every offensive category. The Redbirds wasted no time showing off their power; the first two hitters of the game for ISU hit a double and home run to give it an early 2-0 lead.

SIU came back and tied the game in the second inning when Savannah Fisher hit a two-RBI single to score Brook Womack and Lacey Newbold, but Illinois State came back with a four-run bottom half to go ahead for good.

"As well as we've pitched the ball lately, when you're not used to (giving up big innings), it shell-shocks you for a minute," Blaylock said.

SIU went down 1-2-3 in the top of the third, and Illinois State hit three home runs in the bottom half of the inning to put the game in run-rule territory. For the fourth-straight MVC game, SIU faced a potent offensive lineup with a stiff wind blowing straight out; for the fourth-straight MVC game, the opponent took advantage of the conditions with home runs to run-rule SIU.

"I was not unhappy with our energy," Blaylock said. "I have to give credit to Illinois State's hitters for coming out and attacking. Hopefully, tomorrow we can change that a little bit."

Shaye Harre entered to pitch the final 1.1 innings scoreless, but Southern couldn't generate any more runs to extend the game. Southern loaded the bases in the fourth with two outs but stranded the runs there.

"I thought Shaye did a great job of coming in and settling us down a little bit, and I wish we would have scored in the inning with the bases loaded," Blaylock said. "Other than that, I thought the kids fought hard. (Illinois State) just swung the bats and did a great job."

UP NEXT: SIU and ISU square off in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at Noon CT.