Southern splits a doubleheader at Missouri State

Saturday, April 9

Springfield, Mo.

2:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

22-12, 6-4

Missouri State

14-20, 3-6

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

04/09/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

April 9, 2016

By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com

G1 Box | G2 Box

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Southern Illinois softball team split a doubleheader at Missouri State on Saturday afternoon, dropping the opener 7-6 on a walk-off before a wire-to-wire 6-3 win in game two.

"We're a young team, and we're learning how to play on the road in conference play," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "I'm just asking them to go one game at a time and get better every game. I feel like they did that today."

In the opener, SIU's early 2-0 lead turned into a 5-2 deficit after MSU put up a four-run fifth inning. Southern (22-12, 6-4 MVC) came back and put four runs on the board in the top of the sixth to re-take the lead, but the Bears (14-20, 3-6 MVC) tied the game in the bottom half before walking off with a win in the seventh.

"Missouri State came out and showed a ton of fight from the beginning," Blaylock said. "They were very, very aggressive on offense. It kind of put us back on our heels that first game. I was proud of the kids to fight back and make it a close game."

In the first inning of the second game, SIU had one on and two outs. But Shaye Harre and Caylee Cook drew walks to load the bases, and Jessica Heese hit her fourth career home run--and second career grand slam--to give SIU a 4-0 lead before Missouri State ever batted.

"She doesn't shy away from a big moment, so I was really proud of her," Blaylock said of Heese.

Armed with an early lead, SIU starter Savanna Dover (5-6) was outstanding in the second game, holding the Bears to just three hits in the first five innings and allowing just single-run innings in the second, sixth and seventh. Brianna Jones got the final out with the bases loaded to earn her third save of the season.

"Savanna Dover did a great job (in game two) coming in, battling hard and getting us a win. She stabilized us," Blaylock said.

Southern's offense battled at the plate well all day, forcing MSU ace Erin Struemph to throw 196 pitches in 6.2 innings over the two games. SIU went just 2-for-18 with runners on base, but Heese's grand slam was one of the two hits, and it gave the Salukis a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

"The offense was really good," Blaylock said. "I have high expectations, and there were a few times (Missouri State) threw up some zeros in some innings that I wish we would have had some better at-bats, but I'm glad to get out of there with a split today."

UP NEXT: The series-deciding game between the Salukis and Bears will start tomorrow at noon. The game will be the final game of a seven-game road swing, the longest of the season for SIU.

NOTES: Eyrika Brandenburg recorded hits in four consecutive plate appearances overlapping the two games...Jessica Heese had five RBIs in the second game, tying Shaye Harre's five-RBI game at Saint Louis for most on the team this season...Heese went 4-for-6 with 6 RBIs over the two games, and she reached in six of eight plate appearances...Missouri State and SIU both came into the game with top-25 fielding percentages nationally, and SIU committed only one error in two games...SIU turned three doubles plays.