Saluki offense generates 19 runs in doubleheader split with Illinois State

Saluki offense generates 19 runs in doubleheader split with Illinois State

04/01/2017 | 9:31:00 | Softball

By: By Drew Hoffman, SIUSalukis.com

NORMAL, ILL. - The Southern Illinois University softball team split a doubleheader with Illinois State today, losing the opener, 8-7, in eight innings, before winning game two, 12-7.

In game one, the Salukis scored three runs in the third and two each in the sixth and seventh. Susie Baranski and Savannah Fisher hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth, as SIU built a seemingly comfortable 7-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh..

Brianna Jones got the start for the Salukis and was cruising comfortably until the seventh. In the final frame, she allowed five runs on five hits as Illinois State rallied to tie on the strength of a two-run homer and three-run home run. The Redbirds pushed across the game-winning run in the bottom half of the eighth.

"At this level you never have anything in the bag," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "I thought they hit the ball well and we didn't execute on some pitches. They gained a lot of momentum and won. I was still extremely proud of our offense. It started of a little shaky, but we competed so hard, and I'm disappointed that we lost because of how hard we played."

Game two of the contest displayed more offense from both teams. SIU started the offensive spurt in the top of the third inning with walks from Baranski and Shaye Harre. With one out and two on Patterson singled, scoring Baranski and giving SIU a 1-0 lead. Patterson finished the day with four hits and seven RBIs. Massa stepped in the chalk box next and blasted one over the left field wall, clearing the bases. The home run put SIU up by four.

After a quiet bottom half from ISU, the Salukis came back to the plate hungry for more in the fourth. The inning started off with a double by Baranski, followed by a single from Eyrika Brandenburg. With runners at the corners, Harre drew a walk to load the bases. Harre finished the day with six walks. Patterson smacked a grand slam, clearing the bases and giving SIU a 9-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the fourth ISU got three runs back and added two more in the fifth to make it 9-5.

The Salukis responded again with Massa blasting a two-run homer for her second home run of the game. Her two homers tied the Saluki single game record for home runs. Massa finished the day with six hits and seven RBIs.

"How much guts do you have after losing game one in extras like that and then turn around play like we did?" Blaylock asked. "It was two good offensive teams going at each other. I wanted it to be low scoring, but it didn't turn out that way. I'm proud of the way the kids responded."

The win moved SIU's MVC record to 6-2, and its overall mark to 18-16. Since both teams picked up one victory today, they both remain tied at the top of the conference. Game three tomorrow will decide the series. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.