Salukis run-rule Buffalo as Dover pitches shutout

Sunday, February 14

Hammond, La.

10:00 AM

Southern Illinois University

3-2

Buffalo

1-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	1	0	0	0	7	8	5	0
Buffalo	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	5

02/14/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 14, 2016

By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com

Box Score | Photo Gallery

HAMMOND, La. - Savanna Dover threw SIU's third complete-game shutout of opening weekend, and the Saluki Softball team run-ruled Buffalo, 8-0 [5], on Sunday morning at North Oak Park. Dover was dominant in the circle, and the Saluki offense took advantage of five Bulls errors to end the game early after a seven-run fifth.

"This was our first road trip; we've been on the road for five days; and we came out with more excitement and more enthusiasm than we had before—that's what I loved the most," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "Our energy was fantastic, and we were ready to go."

Dover lowered her season ERA to 1.65 in 17.0 innings and is limiting opponents to a .175 average after opening weekend. It was her third-consecutive quality start on her third-straight day pitching.

"I don't know if it's her best (start)—what I like is that it's her third (great) one," Blaylock said of Dover. "Brianna (Jones) and Savanna looked as strong today as they did on Day One. They're ready to go; they want the ball."

Southern's offense took advantage of five errors from Buffalo. None of Southern's eight runs was earned. SIU (3-2) scored an unearned run in the first, but Buffalo's starter settled in and retired seven-straight Saluki after that, including a strikeout of Saluki freshmen Hanna Porter.

After four innings, SIU looked like it was in a pitching duel, leading 1-0. Then Buffalo (1-4) committed three errors in the top of the fifth, and SIU took advantage with four hits to score seven runs. Porter hit a three-run homer in the inning to blow open the game.

"From her first at-bat to her second at-bat, she made a great adjustment," Blaylock said of Porter. "First at-bat, they got her on a certain pitch. Second at-bat, she hit it over the fence. "

Dover re-emerged after the seven-run frame just as she was before it. She held Buffalo off the scoreboard and prevented the Bulls from extending the game. She allowed only one extra-base hit in the three-hitter. Buffalo had entered the game averaging nearly 9 hits and 4 runs per game before Dover's first career complete-game shutout.

"They swing the bats really well, and Savanna neutralized them," Blaylock said. "Our kids were ultra-aggressive and did things really, really well."

SIU came out of the first weekend of the season at 3-2 overall. Southern's offense outscored opponents 27-7 on the weekend and put up innings of five, five and seven runs. The pitching duo of Jones and Dover posted an 0.90 ERA over 31 innings and allowed only one crooked-number inning—Southeastern Louisiana's four-run sixth that stole another win from Southern Illinois.

Southern travels to Fort Meyers, Fla., next weekend for four games. SIU faces LIU Brooklyn and Marshall on Friday, Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday and Hofstra on Sunday.