Photo by: Will Becque
Saluki Softball signs transfer Claire Miller
05/29/2018 | 1:01:00 | Softball
A two-time All-MIAA selection at Southwest Baptist, Miller is the fifth player added to SIU's 2018 signing class
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois softball head coach Kerri Blaylock has announced the signing of junior transfer Claire Miller.
Miller comes to Southern Illinois from NCAA Division II affiliate Southwest Baptist. A two-time all-conference pitcher for the Bearcats, Miller earned All-Mid American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) first team honors in 2018 after she led the conference in both strikeouts and shutouts and also finished top-five in the league in innings pitched (2nd, 195.0), earned run average (3rd, 1.97), fewest hits per nine innings (3rd, 4.85) and opposing batting average (4th, .190).
During her two seasons at Southwest Baptist, Miller made 61 appearances in the circle, which included 47 starts, and sported a 26-19 career record with a 1.92 ERA, 14 shutouts and 365 strikeouts. During her sophomore season, Miller finished 21st in the NCAA for fewest hits allowed per nine innings and 23rd in DII for strikeouts.
Miller is the fifth player added to SIU's 2018 signing class and the second pitcher. SIU inked shortstop Ashley Wood, catcher/third basemen Sidney Sikes and outfielder Nicole Johnson to NLIs during the fall signing period, and later added sophomore transfer pitcher Holly Marousek during the spring.
"We are excited to have Claire join the Saluki softball family," Blaylock said. "We were hoping to add two pitchers for next year and with Claire and Holly (Marousek) we feel like we have added quality on the mound. Claire has experience at the collegiate level and has been successful at every level she has thrown at. She is a competitor and that is what we love on the mound."
Miller is originally from nearby Wayne City, Ill. and played her high school ball at Wayne City High School, where she pitched the Indians to the IHSA Class A semifinals as a junior. As a senior, Miller held opponents to a 0.10 ERA over 135 innings, which was the 11th-lowest earned run average in a single-season in IHSA softball history.
A three-time recipient of the Midland Trail Conference's Player of the Year award, Miller earned back-to-back spots on the ICA All-State First Team and ended her prep career with 1,121 career strikeouts - the 19th-most in IHSA history. After high school, Miller signed to attend Southwest Baptist University to play for Jim Flora, who resigned on May 4 after five seasons at the helm of the Bearcats.
The right-handed pitcher will have the benefit of knowing at least one of her teammates when she joins the Salukis this summer. She was battery mates with soon-to-be junior Katelyn Massa on the St. Louis Chaos, a summer travel team. The duo helped the Chaos win a multitude of tournaments, which included a seventh place finish (out of 64 teams) at the 2017 USA Softball Junior Olympic Cup.
Miller comes to Southern Illinois from NCAA Division II affiliate Southwest Baptist. A two-time all-conference pitcher for the Bearcats, Miller earned All-Mid American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) first team honors in 2018 after she led the conference in both strikeouts and shutouts and also finished top-five in the league in innings pitched (2nd, 195.0), earned run average (3rd, 1.97), fewest hits per nine innings (3rd, 4.85) and opposing batting average (4th, .190).
During her two seasons at Southwest Baptist, Miller made 61 appearances in the circle, which included 47 starts, and sported a 26-19 career record with a 1.92 ERA, 14 shutouts and 365 strikeouts. During her sophomore season, Miller finished 21st in the NCAA for fewest hits allowed per nine innings and 23rd in DII for strikeouts.
Miller is the fifth player added to SIU's 2018 signing class and the second pitcher. SIU inked shortstop Ashley Wood, catcher/third basemen Sidney Sikes and outfielder Nicole Johnson to NLIs during the fall signing period, and later added sophomore transfer pitcher Holly Marousek during the spring.
"We are excited to have Claire join the Saluki softball family," Blaylock said. "We were hoping to add two pitchers for next year and with Claire and Holly (Marousek) we feel like we have added quality on the mound. Claire has experience at the collegiate level and has been successful at every level she has thrown at. She is a competitor and that is what we love on the mound."
Miller is originally from nearby Wayne City, Ill. and played her high school ball at Wayne City High School, where she pitched the Indians to the IHSA Class A semifinals as a junior. As a senior, Miller held opponents to a 0.10 ERA over 135 innings, which was the 11th-lowest earned run average in a single-season in IHSA softball history.
A three-time recipient of the Midland Trail Conference's Player of the Year award, Miller earned back-to-back spots on the ICA All-State First Team and ended her prep career with 1,121 career strikeouts - the 19th-most in IHSA history. After high school, Miller signed to attend Southwest Baptist University to play for Jim Flora, who resigned on May 4 after five seasons at the helm of the Bearcats.
The right-handed pitcher will have the benefit of knowing at least one of her teammates when she joins the Salukis this summer. She was battery mates with soon-to-be junior Katelyn Massa on the St. Louis Chaos, a summer travel team. The duo helped the Chaos win a multitude of tournaments, which included a seventh place finish (out of 64 teams) at the 2017 USA Softball Junior Olympic Cup.
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