Salukis split a pair on second day of Lion Classic

Saturday, February 13

Hammond, La.

2:30 PM

Southern Illinois University

2-2

Southeastern Louisiana

3-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	4	7	1
Southeastern La.	0	0	0	0	1	4	X	5	5	0

02/13/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Feb. 13, 2016

By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com

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HAMMOND, La. - The Saluki Softball team split a doubleheader at the Lion Classic on Saturday afternoon. Brianna Jones threw her second-straight complete game shutout in the opener, a 12-0 six-inning win over Mississippi Valley State. A four-run sixth for host Southeastern Louisiana kept the Salukis from a sweep, dropping a 5-4 decision to the Lady Lions.

"We played 11 great innings and one bad inning," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "Sometimes, in softball, that's what happens. Our pitching performances were really, really good again. I'm really proud of the offense today, especially in game two, with different types of pitching, making the adjustments we did. We just let one inning get away from us."

Jones, a freshmen, still has not allowed an earned run in 14 innings. A day after throwing a complete-game shutout in her collegiate debut, Jones threw another one against Mississippi Valley State.

While yesterday the offense was limited to three runs over two games, the bats exploded for 12 runs in the opener to get the run-rule win in six innings. Blaylock took over coaching the third-base box, while associate head coach Jen Sewell relayed the offensive signs from the dugout. The offense responded for 16 runs in 13 innings.

"With our young hitters, (Sewell) wanted to give them real-time information that we felt could really help them," Blaylock said. "We really felt it worked. We made some great adjustments."

Facing Southeastern Louisiana in the second game, SIU (2-2) led throughout the game, taking a three-run lead into the bottom of the sixth. Three walks and an error helped the Lions score four runs on only one hit to give Southern a loss.

"This was a game, if we play it in a month, we don't lose it," Blaylock said.

Shaye Harre, who was 1-for-5 on opening day, went 4-for-8 over the two games with two home runs and a double. She led an offensive attack that now has six players hitting .300 or better after four games. Hanna Porter (2-for-2 with a double), Jessica Heese (3-for-3 with a triple) and Jessa Thomas (2-for-2) all had perfect days at the plate.

"Shaye is back to feeling really good and is on a roll," Blaylock said. "We needed to challenge some kids and get some offensive production. What can you say about Hanna Porter, the job she's done? Caylee Cook has done a very good job."

Southern has already shown signs of making a big leap from last year's 21-26-1 season. The staff ERA is 1.08 and opponents are hitting a measly .187 off aces Jones and Savanna Dover. At one point, SIU was playing six underclassmen of the nine on the field, but the Salukis hit .358 as a team on Saturday.

"If you can do things like that, and you can continue to do things like that, you're going to win more than you lose," Blaylock said.

SIU wraps up the Lion Classic with a 10 a.m. game against Buffalo tomorrow at North Oak Park.

NOTES: Kelsey Gonzalez reached in both games to extend her reached base streak to 22 games...Brianna Jones has not allowed an earned run in 14.0 innings pitched...Jones has joined former aces Amy Harre and Cassidy Scoggins as former Salukis who have thrown complete-game shutouts in their first career starts...Jones and Dover have combined to allow only one extra-base hit in 26.0 innings pitched.