Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU vs. UE: Notes & Links
04/18/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball
| SIU (25-14, 8-6 MVC) vs. Evansville (18-20, 6-9 MVC) | |
| Dates | April 19, 2016 |
| Location | Carbondale, Ill. | Charlotte West Stadium (502) | Weather |
| Game 1 | Tuesday, April 19 | 3 p.m. CT | Video Stream | Live Stats |
| Game 2 | Tuesday, April 19 | 5 p.m. CT | Video Stream | Live Stats |
| Promotions | FACULTY AND STAFF APPRECIATION: Free admission for SIU faculty and staff. Free popcorn compliments of Chancellor Brad Colwell |
| 2016 Stats | Southern Illinois | Evansville | MVC |
| Social Media | @SIU_Softball  | @SIU_Softball  | Saluki Softball  |
Southern Illinois (25-14, 8-6 MVC)
- Head Coach: Kerri Blaylock (587-319-1, 17th Season)
- Associate Head Coach: Jen Sewell
- Assistant Coach: Katie Wagner
Evansville (18-20, 6-9 MVC)
- Head Coach: Mat Mundell (28-65, 2nd Season)
- Assistant Coach: Ashley Balazs
- Assistant Coach: Aubrey Watson
FOR STARTERS
SIU's doubleheader against Evansville has been pushed up to Tuesday, April 19, at 3 p.m. at Charlotte West Stadium. The games were originally scheduled for Wednesday but have been moved to Tuesday due to the forecasted rain. The Salukis (1st) and Aces (3rd) have two of the top three team ERAs in the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville has won its series each of the past two weekends against Wichita State and Illinois State. SIU and UE will play the third game of the series next Tuesday (April 26) at 5 p.m. at Evansville.
Southern Illinois...
- is 17-7 in its last 24 games.
- starts the second half of MVC play with the doubleheader. SIU is 8-6 after five of nine MVC series.
- pitched 13 shutouts this season. SIU already has the most shutouts since 2011 (13), and all three pitchers have already thrown at least one shutout. SIU had 14 shutouts in both 2009 and 2010. The last time SIU reached 15 shutouts in a season was 2007 (18).
- has only allowed only 10 home run in 256.0 innings pitched, which leads the MVC. Evansville is second in the conference in fewest home runs allowed with 18.
- has allowed only two earned runs in the last four games.
- has the lowest team ERA (2.54) and opponent batting average (.243) in the conference.
- is out-homering opponents 31-10 this season. SIU has 87 extra-base hits, compared to just 48 for opponents.
- went 10-5 at Charlotte West Stadium in 2015, the 34th consecutive season SIU had a winning record at home. SIU is 10-4 this season at home.
- hosts the 2016 MVC Championships at Charlotte West Stadium.
- is 199-73 (.736) at home in its 14th seasons at Charlotte West Stadium.
PITCHING ON FIRE
SIU's pitching has allowed only five runs—and only two earned runs—in the last four games combined. Brianna Jones threw her ninth shutout of the season vs. Murray State on Wednesday, and Savanna Dover followed up with a shutout of her own on Saturday vs. Indiana State. Saluki pitching had a combined 0.48 ERA last week in 29.0 innings, striking out 13 while allowing only 19 hits and a combined .190 opponent batting average.
SYD JONES: DOING WORK
Sydney Jones has hit in nine of the last 10 games. In that stretch, she is hitting .343 (12-for-35) with a double, two home runs, seven RBIs and five runs scored. She is slugging .543 while reaching at a .378 clip and is also a perfect 2-for-2 stealing bases.
LINEUP DEPTH
Eight of SIU's hitters have double-figure RBIs this season, and Jessa Thomas and Kelsey Gonzalez each have nine RBIs of their own. Shaye Harre (31), Sydney Jones (17), Jessica Heese (21) and Merri Anne Patterson (18) all have more than 15 RBIs, and those same four all have at least nine extra base hits. Those four alone (55) have more extra-base hits than have been hit against SIU this season (48).
DOVER'S GREAT WEEK
Savanna Dover had an 0.50 ERA in 14 innings last week. She shut out Indiana State in game two, and the Salukis cruised to an 8-0 win. She continued the success with six more shutout innings to start game three before the Sycamores scored an unearned run in the seventh. Dover already have four of SIU's eight MVC wins this season.
BRI JONES LEADING NCAA FRESHMEN IN WINS, SHUTOUTS
Brianna Jones leads all freshmen nationally in both wins (18) and shutouts (9). Already, Jones is a three-time MVC Pitcher of the Week and two-time MVC Newcomer of the Week. She leads the conference in ERA (1.90), wins (18), and shutouts (9).
