Friday, February 17
Madeira Beach, FL
3:30 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
4-3
4
vs
3
University of Alabama at Birmingham
0-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Southern Illinois
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
4
9
3
Alabama-Birmingham
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
3
6
2
SIU gets fourth win in extras
02/17/2017 | 11:05:00 | Softball
MADEIRA BEACH, FLA. – The Southern Illinois University softball program picked up its fourth win of the season after going to an extra-inning dual with UAB. The Salukis are now 4-3 overall.
SIU's day started with a 5-3 loss to North Dakota. Nicole Doyle got the ball for SIU and struck out five batters the first two innings. However, UND was able to get runners on in both the first and the second, and turned them into runs. After two innings the score was 2-0 in favor the Fighting Hawks.
"I thought Nicole threw great today," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "The thing with Nicole is that we need to get her more innings and get her more comfortable. I have great confidence in her stuff and as she builds her stamina back up she'll continue to make positive strides."
Trialing going into the third inning, the Salukis strung some hits together to get back in the game. Kyleigh Decker singled and later advanced to third on a Brandenburg single. With two outs and runners at the corners, Merri Anne Patterson stepped in the box. It took only two pitches for the senior to send one on a rope over the center fielder's head. The double scored two Salukis easily, bringing the game back to a tie going into the bottom of the third.
UND responded in the bottom half of the inning, getting a two-out home run to give the Green and White a lead, 3-2. After the home run, Doyle struck out the next batter on three pitches to end the inning. In the top of the fourth, SIU did the one thing they've done well in the previous five games, hit the long ball. This time it was Sydney Jones, as she took one to deep center field to tie the game up at three all. It was the third homer of the season for Jones.
Neither side got anything going on the base paths the next two innings, bringing a tie game to the bottom of the sixth. UND opened up with a couple of walks, but surrendered two outs in between them. A single loaded the bases, and the Fighting Hawks seized the opportunity, singling once more to bring in two runs. The Salukis went down 1-2-3 in the top half of the seventh ending the game.
"I don't think we were right the first game," Blaylock said. "We just didn't play well. We were a step off on some defensive sets and we didn't communicate well. It wasn't a quality game for us."
The Salukis entered the second game of the day with more fire. They were the visitors on the scoreboard again, giving them the first at bat of the game. In the first two innings the Salukis got two runners on, stole two bases, only struck out once, but were unable to get anyone across the plate. It was the third inning when things came together. Shaye Harre started the inning with a single and was bunted over to second by Decker to give the Salukis a runner in scoring position. After two quick outs by UAB, in walked Susie Baranski. The freshman knocked a single into the outfield to score Harre, giving SIU the lead.
"We really turned it around the second game," Blaylock said. "We had good situational hitting and it got us out on top early."
Brianna Jones pitched the entire game for SIU. The sophomore only allowed one runner the first two innings. She ran into trouble in the bottom of third, allowing a double and a single, which scored a run.
Going into the fourth inning the score was tied up at 1-1. Savannah Fisher led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Eyrika Brandenburg hit an infield single to the right side of the field, advancing Fisher to third. After a pitching change by UAB, Patterson came to the plate. She delivered again, singling to left field, scoring Fisher, and giving the Salukis a 2-1 lead. Patterson ended the day with three RBIs in two games.
The score remained the same until the top of the sixth inning. The inning led off with a Baranski single, followed by a Brandenburg bunt, moving her to second. SIU took advantage of an error by UAB that put runners at the corners with two outs. The Dragons made another mistake the very next pitch, as the ball sailed to the backstop, scoring Baranski. SIU ended the inning with a two run lead, 3-1. In the bottom half of the frame SIU committed two errors that led to two unearned runs. With the score now tied at 3 all, Jones worked out of the jam with a ground ball.
In extras, SIU jumped on the board early, with the international tiebreaker coming into play immediately. Fisher bunted pinch runner, Bailee Pulley, over to third base with only one out. Next at the dish was Baranski, who hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Pulley. The run made the score, 4-3, in favor of SIU.
That one run was all Jones needed in the bottom half of the inning, putting UAB down in order ending the game. Jones moves to 2-1 on the season.
"We made mistakes down the stretch and that's uncharacteristic of us," Blaylock said. "Brianna gave us a great outing though, and we had big hits when we needed them."
The Salukis are back in action tomorrow morning against the University of Massachusetts.
SIU's day started with a 5-3 loss to North Dakota. Nicole Doyle got the ball for SIU and struck out five batters the first two innings. However, UND was able to get runners on in both the first and the second, and turned them into runs. After two innings the score was 2-0 in favor the Fighting Hawks.
"I thought Nicole threw great today," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "The thing with Nicole is that we need to get her more innings and get her more comfortable. I have great confidence in her stuff and as she builds her stamina back up she'll continue to make positive strides."
Trialing going into the third inning, the Salukis strung some hits together to get back in the game. Kyleigh Decker singled and later advanced to third on a Brandenburg single. With two outs and runners at the corners, Merri Anne Patterson stepped in the box. It took only two pitches for the senior to send one on a rope over the center fielder's head. The double scored two Salukis easily, bringing the game back to a tie going into the bottom of the third.
UND responded in the bottom half of the inning, getting a two-out home run to give the Green and White a lead, 3-2. After the home run, Doyle struck out the next batter on three pitches to end the inning. In the top of the fourth, SIU did the one thing they've done well in the previous five games, hit the long ball. This time it was Sydney Jones, as she took one to deep center field to tie the game up at three all. It was the third homer of the season for Jones.
Neither side got anything going on the base paths the next two innings, bringing a tie game to the bottom of the sixth. UND opened up with a couple of walks, but surrendered two outs in between them. A single loaded the bases, and the Fighting Hawks seized the opportunity, singling once more to bring in two runs. The Salukis went down 1-2-3 in the top half of the seventh ending the game.
"I don't think we were right the first game," Blaylock said. "We just didn't play well. We were a step off on some defensive sets and we didn't communicate well. It wasn't a quality game for us."
The Salukis entered the second game of the day with more fire. They were the visitors on the scoreboard again, giving them the first at bat of the game. In the first two innings the Salukis got two runners on, stole two bases, only struck out once, but were unable to get anyone across the plate. It was the third inning when things came together. Shaye Harre started the inning with a single and was bunted over to second by Decker to give the Salukis a runner in scoring position. After two quick outs by UAB, in walked Susie Baranski. The freshman knocked a single into the outfield to score Harre, giving SIU the lead.
"We really turned it around the second game," Blaylock said. "We had good situational hitting and it got us out on top early."
Brianna Jones pitched the entire game for SIU. The sophomore only allowed one runner the first two innings. She ran into trouble in the bottom of third, allowing a double and a single, which scored a run.
Going into the fourth inning the score was tied up at 1-1. Savannah Fisher led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Eyrika Brandenburg hit an infield single to the right side of the field, advancing Fisher to third. After a pitching change by UAB, Patterson came to the plate. She delivered again, singling to left field, scoring Fisher, and giving the Salukis a 2-1 lead. Patterson ended the day with three RBIs in two games.
The score remained the same until the top of the sixth inning. The inning led off with a Baranski single, followed by a Brandenburg bunt, moving her to second. SIU took advantage of an error by UAB that put runners at the corners with two outs. The Dragons made another mistake the very next pitch, as the ball sailed to the backstop, scoring Baranski. SIU ended the inning with a two run lead, 3-1. In the bottom half of the frame SIU committed two errors that led to two unearned runs. With the score now tied at 3 all, Jones worked out of the jam with a ground ball.
In extras, SIU jumped on the board early, with the international tiebreaker coming into play immediately. Fisher bunted pinch runner, Bailee Pulley, over to third base with only one out. Next at the dish was Baranski, who hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Pulley. The run made the score, 4-3, in favor of SIU.
That one run was all Jones needed in the bottom half of the inning, putting UAB down in order ending the game. Jones moves to 2-1 on the season.
"We made mistakes down the stretch and that's uncharacteristic of us," Blaylock said. "Brianna gave us a great outing though, and we had big hits when we needed them."
The Salukis are back in action tomorrow morning against the University of Massachusetts.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Brianna (2-1)
L: HIR, Madison (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Fisher, Savannah 1
3B: Brandenburg, Eyrika 1
RBI: Baranski, Susie 2 ; Patterson, Merri Anne 1
SH: Brandenburg, Eyrika 1 ; Jones, Sydney 1 ; Decker, Kyleigh 3 ; Fisher, Savannah 1
SF: Baranski, Susie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Baranski, Susie 1 ; Harre, Shaye 1 ; Thomas, Jessa 1 ; Fisher, Savannah 1
SB: Patterson, Merri Anne 1 ; Andrus, Haley 1
HBP: Andrus, Haley 1
PO: Harre, Shaye 1
Batting:
2B: FERNANDEZ, Danii 1
RBI: FALLEN, Joanna 3
SH: PETREE, Analyse 2
Base Running:
RUNS: SIDES, Katlyn 1 ; FERNANDEZ, Danii 1 ; PERKINS, Tori 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UTIL
/ SoftballP/INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
UTIL
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