Kentucky’s pitching powers Wildcats past Salukis

Friday, March 3

Carbondale, Ill.

3 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

8-8

University of Kentucky

12-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kentucky	1	4	0	0	0	1	1	7	15	0
Southern Illinois	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	0

03/03/2017 | 9:30:00 | Softball

Box Score

By: By Drew Hoffman, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, ILL. - The home opener for Southern Illinois softball came against nationally ranked Kentucky, and the Wildcats proved why they were No. 19 in the country, beating the Salukis, 7-1, in seven innings today.

Brianna Jones got the ball for Southern and went the distance, throwing more than 130 pitches. She was able to start the first inning with two easy outs, but then the Wildcats strung two hits together, with a stolen base in the middle, to put UK on the board early.

In the bottom half of the first, the Salukis were able to get Susie Baranski on with a walk. Baranski stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch to put the Salukis in prime position to tie the game up. However, UK got two fly outs to end the inning.

Kentucky used the momentum swing in the top half of the second, singling to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second with one out. UK then got four hits and a walk in the next six batters, scoring four earned runs. During this offensive spurt, the Wildcats only added one more out to the board. After the fifth hit in the inning, Jones fought back, picking up her second strikeout of the game and third out of the inning. At the end of the inning Kentucky was up, 5-0.

Southern's second time to the plate was identical to its first time. After a leadoff out, the Salukis picked up another walk. The next two batters struck out swinging, ending the inning. The Salukis were able to accumulate six walks over the course of the game.

The next three innings turned into a pitching battle. Jones showed why she was a top-10 finalist for freshman of the year a season a go, holding Kentucky to two hits between the third and fifth. The flip side of the game showed much of the same while the Salukis were at the plate. Through five innings the Dawgs had left six runners on base and were hitless.

Kentucky added one more run in both the sixth and seventh, to push their lead to seven. With only three outs remaining the, Salukis finally were able to string some hits together for a run. The inning started with a single up the middle by freshman Katelyn Massa. UK recorded two quick outs, the next two batters, leaving SIU down to its final out. Baranski delivered a single up the chute for her fourth RBI this season. The Salukis ended the contest with one run, three hits, and eight left on base.

The loss drops SIU to 8-8 on the year and 0-1 at home. Southern will be back in action tomorrow, in day two of the Coach B Classic, to face Western Illinois at noon.