Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
30-17, 0
Northern Iowa
36-17, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Iowa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Southern Illinois | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Salukis take series from UNI on Senior Day
05/01/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball
By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team beat Northern Iowa 2-0 on Senior Day for Caylee Cook, Kelsey Gonzalez and Taylor Harris. SIU won its 30th game of the year and its fifth MVC series of the season.
"There's nothing better than to get (the seniors) a W," head coach Kerri Blaylock said.
After UNI's Chelsea Ross won a 1-0 pitcher's duel in the series opener, Brianna Jones flipped the script to give Southern (30-17, 13-9 MVC) the series win. Jones (21-10) threw her 10th shutout of the season, tying Amy Harre's program freshman record.
Shaye Harre hit an RBI double in the first inning to give SIU an early 1-0 lead, and Savannah Fisher hit a solo homer in the sixth inning to give Jones some insurance she didn't end up needing.
"(Jones) threw fantastic again, and I also thought we had such great tempo," Blaylock said. "Fish's home run was huge because it separated us a little bit."
Facing a Northern Iowa (36-17, 14-9) team that has already set its program record for home runs in a season, Southern's pitching allowed the Panthers only one total run over three games combined and zero home runs. On Sunday, UNI hit a ball over the centerfield fence, but Merri Anne Patterson made an incredible leaping grab to rob the home run. Patterson also made a sprinting catch in left-center when UNI had its best scoring opportunity of the game.
"Merri Anne was fantastic--game savers," Blaylock said. "When it was off the bat, you thought it was gone, and she just made a great play."
Throughout the series, Southern's pitching was nothing short of spectacular. Northern Iowa entered the weekend with 26 home runs in its last 10 games, at least three home runs in every MVC series and at least one home run in 17 of 20 MVC games. Brianna Jones and Savanna Dover held UNI to 11-for-70 from the plate (.157 average) over three games this weekend and only one extra-base hit, a double.
"When can you say about our pitching?" Blaylock said. "We did a great job, pitching, defense, everything."
After dropping four out of five games in mid-April, Southern has responded with wins in five of the last six games. After sweeping Bradley last weekend, SIU won a series vs. UNI for the first time since 2010.
"It was a great weekend, and they responded," Blaylock said. "We hit a bit of a rough patch. We went up to Bradley and swept, and we win two out of three this weekend. I feel really, really good."
SIU moved 13 games above .500 for the first time this season and clinched a 30-win season for the first time since 2012. The Salukis have four regular-season games remaining, all on the road. After a 5 p.m. game at Evansville on Wednesday, SIU heads to Wichita State for three games next weekend to close the regular season.
SIU hosts the MVC Tournament from May 12-14 at Charlotte West Stadium.
NOTES: Hitting streaks were extended for Shaye Harre (six games), Eyrika Brandenburg (seven games) and Kelsey Gonzalez (eight games)...SIU clinched a winning home record for the 35th consecutive season...Brianna Jones's shutout was her 10th of the season, tying Amy Harre's SIU freshman record (2002)...SIU has thrown 15 shutouts this season, the most for the program since throwing 18 in 2007...UNI had hit at least 3 home runs in every MVC series this year before SIU held the Panthers without a home run this weekend...UNI had hit 26 home runs in the 10 games prior to the SIU series; Brianna Jones and Savanna Dover did not allow a single home run in three games...SIU has allowed three or fewer runs in 12-straight games.
Special to get a win for three great seniors on Senior Day. #Salukis pic.twitter.com/ElDRZec0KW
— SIU Softball (@SIU_Softball) May 1, 2016
Great weekend for the Diamond Dawgs!@SIU_Baseball = Win No. 25 & series W over Wichita St.@SIU_Softball = Win No. 30 & series W over UNI
— Saluki Athletics (@SIUSalukis) May 1, 2016
.@MerriPatterson doesn't just hose people.
She robs home runs, too. #Salukis #SalukiStrong #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/9o9iQzkQ54— SIU Softball (@SIU_Softball) May 1, 2016
big time series win makes for a perfect senior day! so happy we could get that win for our seniors today🐾
— Sydney Jones (@S_Jones00) May 1, 2016
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Brianna (21-10)
L: Ross,Chelsea (15-7)
Base Running:
SB: Olson,Samantha 1
Batting:
2B: Gonzalez, Kelsey 1 ; Harre, Shaye 1
HR: Fisher, Savannah 1
RBI: Harre, Shaye 1 ; Fisher, Savannah 1
SH: Porter, Hanna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brandenburg, Eyrika 1 ; Fisher, Savannah 1
