Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
24-13, 0
Indiana State
10-26, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Southern Illinois | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
Dover's shutout gives Salukis a split vs. Indiana State
04/16/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball
By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com
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CARBONDALE, Ill. - Savanna Dover's two-hit shutout in game two gave the Southern Illinois softball team a doubleheader split with Indiana State on Saturday afternoon at Charlotte West Stadium. After the Sycamores won the opener, 3-0, Dover didn't allow a runner into scoring position while Southern's offense came to life to spark an 8-0 win.
Indiana State starter Baily Benefiel won a pitching duel in the opener. SIU starter Brianna Jones allowed only three runs--two of them unearned while SIU's defense committed a season-high four errors--but Benefiel completed her second Missouri Valley Conference shutout of the season.
"I didn't think we played well in the first game, obviously, but you have to give credit to (Benefiel) for coming out and doing what she did," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "Credit to their team for how they attacked us. Four errors and three hits--it's just not our ball game."
SIU (25-13, 8-5 MVC) started to put pressure on Benefiel late in the first game; and when Benefiel also started game two, the Salukis broke through for three runs in the first inning and two more in the second.
Armed with an early lead, Dover (6-6) threw her third shutout of the season in game two. She didn't allow an Indiana State base runner into scoring position all game and completed the two-hitter without walking any.
"I felt really good about getting ahead (in the counts)," Dover said. "I was focusing on pounding the zone and making sure I got that first strike so I could work in my other stuff."
Jessica Heese gave SIU the early lead with a two-run, two-out double in the first inning, and Hanna Porter followed with an RBI double of her own. Sydney Jones had a two-out, two-run single in the second inning, giving Dover a five-run lead after two innings. From there, Dover never let Indiana State threaten; she didn't allow any Sycamore to reach until there were two outs in the fourth inning.
"She hit her spots and did everything she was supposed to do," Blaylock said. "The kid just does a really good job when she mixes her pitches. She pitches into the defense. No one hits her hard, and she did a great job."
Southern ended the game early with three more runs in the sixth. Heese walked to open the inning, followed by singles from Porter and Merri Anne Patterson. After a Jessa Thomas RBI groundout, Kelsey Gonzalez came through with an RBI single to end the game.
Southern and Indiana State (10-27, 4-8 MVC) will play the series-deciding game at noon tomorrow at Charlotte West Stadium. SIU is looking for its fourth series win in the first five weekends of MVC play.
"We can still win the series tomorrow, and that's our goal: to win the series we play," Blaylock said.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bailey Benefiel (8-21)
L: Jones, Brianna (18-7)
Batting:
RBI: Rylee Holland 1 ; Monique Castillo 1
SH: Kelsey Montgomery 1 ; Bailey Martin 1 ; Brooke Riemenschneid 1 ; Kassie BRown 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rylee Holland 1 ; Abbie Malchow 1 ; Kassie BRown 1
SB: Kelsey Montgomery 1 ; Abbie Malchow 1
Batting:
SH: Heese, Jessica 1
Base Running:
SB: Patterson, Merri Anne 1
