Seventh-inning rally gives SIU 4-1 win over Butler

Sunday, March 13

Clearwater, Fla.

8:00 AM

Southern Illinois University

13-8

Butler

13-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	4	8	1
Butler	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	7	1

03/13/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score

March 13, 2016

By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Saluki Softball finished the USF Under Armour Invitational with a 4-1 record after beating Butler on Sunday morning. The Salukis (13-8) and Bulldogs (14-11) were tied 1-1 heading into the seventh inning, and Caylee Cook hit a go-ahead RBI double to give SIU the 4-1 win.

Cook continued a resurgent senior season that has seen her already set career bests in hits doubles, RBIs, total bases and stolen bases; and she has a team-leading seven two-out RBIs. Butler pitched around star first baseman Shaye Harre with one out, walking her on four pitches. Cook made them pay with her fourth double of the season, and Harre scored all the way from first base.

"(Cook) should never let someone get the best of her right now," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "She can hit anybody."

SIU took an early 1-0 lead when Hanna Porter hit a sacrifice fly. SIU had chances throughout the game but left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings. Southern left 10 runners on base in the game, but came through in the seventh. After Cook gave SIU a 2-1 lead, Merri Anne Patterson closed the door on the game with a two-run homer.

SIU got another great outing from a starting pitcher. Savanna Dover allowed just a single earned run in 4.2 innings, her second-straight quality start. But just like Dover's last start vs. Iona (5.2 IP, 1 ER), the win went to her reliever, Brianna Jones (10-3), when Southern's bats won the game late.

"I joked with (Dover) after the game; maybe the offense will put up 3 or 4 runs in her next start," Blaylock said. "She had two quality starts (this weekend)."

SIU's pitching trio of Dover, Jones and Nicole Doyle was absolutely dominant over the weekend, allowing only three runs (all earned) for an 0.62 ERA over five games. They struck out 33 hitters in 34 innings.

"We did a great job on the mound," Blaylock said. "Savanna Dover had another quality start (today). We got a run early, and we kept battling."

The Salukis have won five of their last six games after the 4-1 swing at the USF Under Armour Invitational. Southern is five games over .500 for the first time since late in the 2014 season.

Heading into conference play next weekend, SIU has already more than doubled its non-conference win total from last season. The Salukis start MVC play on Saturday, hosting Loyola for a Noon doubleheader. But first, Southern travels to Saint Louis on Wednesday for its first mid-week game of the year.