Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern opens mid-week play at Saint Louis on Wednesday
03/15/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball
| SIU (13-8) vs. Saint Louis (8-11) | |
| Date | March 16, 2016 | 4 p.m. CT |
| Location | St. Louis, Mo. | Billiken Sports Center | Weather |
| Follow Along | Live Stats Provided by SLU |
| Statistics | Southern Illinois | Saint Louis | MVC |
| Series History | SIU leads 45-4 | Streak: SLU W1 |
| Social Media | @SIU_Softball  | @SIU_Softball  | Saluki Softball  |
FOR STARTERS
Saluki Softball starts mid-week games with a trip to Saint Louis on Wednesday. The Salukis and Billikens will square off at 4 p.m. CT at the Billiken Sports Center. Southern Illinois leads the series 45-4, but Saint Louis won last year, 7-6. SIU overcame a five-run deficit in that game to take the lead, but SLU scored two in the seventh to win. SIU and SLU split a doubleheader the last time the teams met in St. Louis.
Southern Illinois...
- is 13-8 after five weekends.
- has won five of its last six games. SIU has not allowed more than one run in any of the six games.
- hasn't allowed a crooked number (more than one run in an inning) in 40 consecutive innings.
- pitched eight shutouts this season. SIU already has the most shutouts since 2011 (13), and the season is only 21 games old. All three pitchers have at least one shutout.
- has only allowed only four home run in 133.2 innings pitched. SIU allowed 53 home runs last year (about one every six innings).
- is out-homering opponents 17-4 this season.
- leads the MVC in home runs per game with 17 home runs in 21 games.
- has played a challenging schedule. SIU's seven losses are against teams who have gone a combined 89-58, for a .605 winning percentage. Six of SIU's seven losses have come to teams that are at least three games above .500.
Brianna Jones LEADS THE NATION IN SHUTOUTS
True freshman pitcher Brianna Jones started her career with a bang, throwing complete-game shutouts in each of her first three starts. Jones leads the nation in shutouts with six. She opened her career with a 3-0 shutout win over regional rival UT Martin, then followed it up with another shutout the next day vs. Mississippi Valley State. After the two shutouts at the Lion Classic, Jones earned MVC Pitcher of the Week honors in her first week eligible for the award. A week later, Jones threw another one, this time a 9-0 win over LIU Brooklyn. In total, Jones didn't allow an earned run in the first 22.2 innings of her career. Jones again threw back-to-back shutouts at the Stetson Invitational and earned MVC Pitcher and Newcomer of the Week honors. Jones nearly threw another shutout against Butler, but SIU wisely exchanged a run for an out on a safety squeeze with a big lead in an 11-1 five-inning win.
Jones has allowed six runs twice this season. Outside of those two starts, Jones has an 0.35 ERA in 60.2 innings, with six shutouts in 14 appearances.
DOYLE TOSSES NO-HITTER IN FIRST CAREER START
Another true freshman pitcher, Nicole Doyle, threw a no-hitter in her first collegiate start. Doyle spent the last eight months recovering from a torn ACL before starting her first collegiate game against Hartford at the USF Under Armour Invitational. Doyle was nearly perfect, allowing only one walk in the seven-inning no-hitter, a 5-0 Saluki win. Doyle struck out seven and became the first SIU pitcher since 2011 to throw a no-hitter.
PITCHING SHINES DURING SALUKI SURGE
Saluki pitching hasn't allowed more than one run in any inning for the last 40 consecutive innings. In that span, SIU is 5-1 with two shutouts and one no-hitter. Jones, Doyle and sophomore Savanna Dover have all been on fire during that stretch, posting an 0.72 ERA in 39 innings. The Salukis struck out 40 hitters in those 39 innings and limited opponents to a .181 batting average and only six extra-base hits.
HITTING COMING FROM EVERYWHERE
Southern's lineup has produced from all nine spots this season. Shaye Harre leads the way with a .379 batting average, and she has reached base in 19 of 21 games this season. She came through with a walk-off RBI double to beat Iona last weekend. Three games later, Butler and SIU were tied at 1 in the seventh inning, and the Bulldogs pitched around Harre. Then Caylee Cook came through with a go-ahead RBI double, and Merri Anne Patterson followed with a two-run home run. That's SIU's lineup this year: pick your poison. Eleven players have at least three RBIs (eight have 6 or more), eight players have multiple extra-base hits, seven players have hit home runs, and every single hitter on the roster already has one RBI.
DOING IT WITH DEFENSE
Southern Illinois ranks 25th nationally in fielding percentage, the team's highest-ranked statistic nationally. Southern's fielding percentage (.973) ranks second in the MVC. Five SIU players have perfect fielding percentages (Patterson, B. Jones, Dover, Porter, Doyle) and the team as a whole has committed about half as many errors as its opposition. In addition, catchers have thrown out six would-be base stealers this season.
