Southern's pitching shines in doubleheader split vs. UNI

Saturday, April 30

Carbondale, Ill.

3:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

28-17, 0

Northern Iowa

36-15, 0

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

04/30/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

April 30, 2016

By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com

G1 Box | G2 Box

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois softball team split a doubleheader with Northern Iowa on Saturday afternoon at Charlotte West Stadium. After UNI won a 1-0 game in the opener, Southern's offense exploded for eight runs on nine hits in an 8-0 five-inning win.

Brianna Jones threw another gem in the opener, allowing just five hits in her complete game. UNI (36-16, 14-8) strung together three hits in the sixth inning to get a 1-0 win over SIU (29-17, 12-9 MVC), despite Jones lowering her season ERA to an MVC-best 1.87. In the second game, SIU's Savanna Dover threw her fourth complete-game shutout of the season while the offense scored eight runs on nine hits to get the run-rule win in five innings.

"We had great pitching today," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We held, if not the best offensive team in the league, one of the best offensive teams in the league to one run today. I couldn't be prouder."

UNI's Chelsea Ross won the game-one pitcher's duel against Jones, holding SIU to three hits in her shutout. SIU's bats got rolling in the second game, scoring two runs in the third inning and five more in the fourth en route to an 8-0 win over UNI, who entered the game in second place in the MVC.

"They're in second place for a reason," Blaylock said. "I've been saying all season long that we're a young team, and today was a big step forward. If we pitch like that against anybody we play, we have a shot."

In addition to SIU's outstanding pitching, the defense was just as good behind Jones and Dover. Southern committed only one error over the two games and made several outstanding plays, highlighted by Jessica Heese's full-extension diving catch in foul territory to end a threat when UNI got two runners into scoring position in game two.

Kelsey Gonzalez, Shaye Harre and Savannah Fisher all had two-hit games in the final game, while Caylee Cook drew two walks. Two runs scored on Eyrika Brandenburg's single in the third inning, and Hanna Stam and Merri Anne Patterson both came through with hits in SIU's five-hit, five-run fourth inning of the second game to blow open the game.

"The floodgates opened. Eyrika came up with that hit, and you could see everyone relax," Blaylock said. "But it started with Caylee drawing a walk and Fish getting a hit. When you have people in the 6- and 8-spots getting hits for you, that's where it starts."

The win in the second game gave SIU its 200th win at Charlotte West Stadium, which opened in 2003. It was also the first win at Kay Brechtelsbauer Field, which was dedicated to Coach B prior to the doubleheader. Brechtelsbauer, an SIU Hall-of-Famer, won 633 games in 32 seasons as head coach of Saluki Softball.

"She's so deserving of the field being named after her," Blaylock said. "She gave most of her adult life to this program. She started with nothing and built the program into what is was. I was fortunate enough that she allowed me to coach with her, and I couldn't be more happy for her."

SIU and UNI will play for the series win at noon on Sunday. Following the game, SIU will honor seniors Caylee Cook, Kelsey Gonzalez and Taylor Harris.

NOTES: SIU dedicated its field to Hall-of-Fame Coach Kay Brechtelsbauer prior to the doubleheader...Kelsey Gonzalez hit in both games to extend her hit streak to seven games...SIU won its 29th game, the most wins for the program since 2012...Brianna Jones has allowed three or fewer runs in five-straight starts...Dover's shutout was SIU's 14th shutout of the year, the most for the program since 2010...Dover lowered her season ERA to 2.99, and the team lowered its ERA to 2.37, an MVC best...Shaye Harre drew two walks; she has drawn 22 walks in 21 MVC games...SIU has allowed three or fewer runs in 11-straight games; SIU has allowed one or zero runs in five of the last 11 games.