Friday, March 10
Las Vegas, NV
1:15 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
10-11
0
vs
1
New Mexico State University
6-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Southern Illinois
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
New Mexico State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
4
0
Salukis split in two pitching duels
03/10/2017 | 8:14:00 | Softball
LAS VEGAS, NEV. - The Southern Illinois University softball program split two games in day one of the Rebel Classic, hosted by the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. The Salukis took down UNLV in game one, 1-0, and then fell in nine innings to New Mexico State, 1-0.
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Today's first game against UNLV was decided by a home run in the top of the seventh inning by SIU. Innings one through six were nothing short of a pitching dual between Nicole Doyle (3-4) and UNLV's Morgan Ettinger (11-3). Doyle started off the game extremely hot, picking up three K's in the very first inning. She kept that momentum going into the next four innings, only allowing three total hits.Â
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At the plate the Salukis had early momentum, but were unable to capitalize. In the first two innings SIU left three runners on base, including one runner left in scoring position. Â
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It wasn't until the seventh inning before SIU put a run on the board. Katelyn Massa led off the seventh and saw one pitch, putting it over the wall. It was Massa's first career homer as a Saluki and SIU's first lead of the game.Â
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Heading into the bottom of the seventh with a one run lead, Doyle continued her dominance on the mound. She gave up one hit and left two stranded on the bases to seal the victory for Southern. The 1-0 victory was Doyle's first shutout of the season and the team's fifth.
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"I was really super pleased with how we came energy wise," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We did a great job against a great pitcher [Ettinger]. We played great defense and got a phenomenal pitching performance."Â
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Game No. 2 was similar to the first, being another pitching dual. The game went nine innings and New Mexico State won, 1-0. Brianna Jones got the start for SIU and went nine strong innings for the maroon and white. She finished the game with four strikeouts and only gave up four hits.Â
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SIU's offense struggled in the early going, only getting two base runners on in the first three innings. Shaye Harre was one of the two, picking up her ninth double of the season. She now has 40 career doubles, tying her for fourth most in SIU history.
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"I was disappointed with how we came out offensively," Blaylock said. "I thought we hit the ball hard late in the game. The game was lost in innings one through four. We were flat and hitting a lot pop flies."
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Innings four through seven was nothing but good pitching on both sides. Jones really shined in this stretch, getting three outs in different ways. In two of the four innings Jones went 1, 2, 3, keeping the Aggies off the base paths entirely. The other two innings three from NM State reached base, but Jones kept her composure and the Aggies from scoring.
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With the score still 0-0, the game went to extra innings and international tiebreaker rule was implemented. Both teams were able to push their runner from second over to third, but were unable to bring them home. In the top of the ninth the Salukis went down 1, 2, 3, ending their half. The bottom of the ninth started with a bunt moving a runner to third for New Mexico State, followed by a bloop hit up the middle to score the game winning run. It was only second time this season the Salukis had been shutout.
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"I was very pleased overall with our energy coming off last weekend," Blaylock said. "With that energy level, mixed with today's pitching and defense, we're going to be in very good shape the rest of the weekend and heading into conference play. "
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Southern is back in action tomorrow against New Mexico State at 1:15 p.m. (CT) and then Depaul at 3:30 p.m. (CT)
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Today's first game against UNLV was decided by a home run in the top of the seventh inning by SIU. Innings one through six were nothing short of a pitching dual between Nicole Doyle (3-4) and UNLV's Morgan Ettinger (11-3). Doyle started off the game extremely hot, picking up three K's in the very first inning. She kept that momentum going into the next four innings, only allowing three total hits.Â
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At the plate the Salukis had early momentum, but were unable to capitalize. In the first two innings SIU left three runners on base, including one runner left in scoring position. Â
Â
It wasn't until the seventh inning before SIU put a run on the board. Katelyn Massa led off the seventh and saw one pitch, putting it over the wall. It was Massa's first career homer as a Saluki and SIU's first lead of the game.Â
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Heading into the bottom of the seventh with a one run lead, Doyle continued her dominance on the mound. She gave up one hit and left two stranded on the bases to seal the victory for Southern. The 1-0 victory was Doyle's first shutout of the season and the team's fifth.
Â
"I was really super pleased with how we came energy wise," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We did a great job against a great pitcher [Ettinger]. We played great defense and got a phenomenal pitching performance."Â
Â
Game No. 2 was similar to the first, being another pitching dual. The game went nine innings and New Mexico State won, 1-0. Brianna Jones got the start for SIU and went nine strong innings for the maroon and white. She finished the game with four strikeouts and only gave up four hits.Â
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SIU's offense struggled in the early going, only getting two base runners on in the first three innings. Shaye Harre was one of the two, picking up her ninth double of the season. She now has 40 career doubles, tying her for fourth most in SIU history.
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"I was disappointed with how we came out offensively," Blaylock said. "I thought we hit the ball hard late in the game. The game was lost in innings one through four. We were flat and hitting a lot pop flies."
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Innings four through seven was nothing but good pitching on both sides. Jones really shined in this stretch, getting three outs in different ways. In two of the four innings Jones went 1, 2, 3, keeping the Aggies off the base paths entirely. The other two innings three from NM State reached base, but Jones kept her composure and the Aggies from scoring.
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With the score still 0-0, the game went to extra innings and international tiebreaker rule was implemented. Both teams were able to push their runner from second over to third, but were unable to bring them home. In the top of the ninth the Salukis went down 1, 2, 3, ending their half. The bottom of the ninth started with a bunt moving a runner to third for New Mexico State, followed by a bloop hit up the middle to score the game winning run. It was only second time this season the Salukis had been shutout.
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"I was very pleased overall with our energy coming off last weekend," Blaylock said. "With that energy level, mixed with today's pitching and defense, we're going to be in very good shape the rest of the weekend and heading into conference play. "
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Southern is back in action tomorrow against New Mexico State at 1:15 p.m. (CT) and then Depaul at 3:30 p.m. (CT)
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: K. Green (4-6)
L: Jones, Brianna (4-5)
Batting:
2B: Harre, Shaye 1
SH: Harre, Shaye 1
Base Running:
HBP: Harre, Shaye 1
Batting:
RBI: M. Ili 1
SH: C. Szczesny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: J. Medina 1
HBP: F. Glackin 1 ; M. Ili 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
0
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Inside Saluki Athletics - September 16th
Wednesday, September 17
9.16.25 | Coach Nick Hill Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, September 16
9.8.25 | Saluki Football Highlights - at Purdue
Monday, September 15
9.15.25 | Damien Mayo Jr. with Rodney Watson
Monday, September 15