Softball drops two in season opener

Friday, February 8

Hammond, La.

1 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

0-1

Nicholls State University

1-0

Southern Illinois

Nicholls

02/08/2019 | 10:24:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: By Alex Underwood, SIUSalukis.com

HAMMOND, La. — The Southern Illinois softball team opened the 2019 campaign at the Lion Classic in Hammond, La. to defeats against Nicholls State, 9-0, and tournament host Southeastern Louisiana, 4-3, Friday afternoon at North Oak Park.

"I thought we played two good teams," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We are very disappointed with the losses, but I think we learned a lot and will be ready to go tomorrow."

GAME ONE vs. Nicholls State: L, 9-0 (5 inn.)

SIU failed to get momentum on their side in the first of two games versus Nicholls at the Lion Classic.

Senior ace Brianna Jones (0-1) made the start, but struggled with her demand, allowing two runs, two hits and two walks in 1.1 innings of work. Newcomer Holly Marousek came in relief for Jones in the second inning and pitched the remainder of the matchup. She allowed seven runs on six hits in her first Division I appearance.

"We had to make the change and when we did, things just kind of went awry," Blaylock said. "I think that set the tone for the first game.

After a scoreless first, Colonels reached base on three walks — two by Jones, one by Marousek — to load the bases with one out in the second. Nicholls third baseman Jewel Lara took advantage of the prime situation by delivering a grand slam.

The scored remained 4-0 in favor of Nicholls until the bottom of the fourth. After Marousek retired the first two batters of the inning, three-straight Colonels reached base on a walk, RBI double and RBI single, which resulted in the Saluki deficit extending to 6-0.

SIU threatened to minimize the deficit with baserunners reaching scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but could not capitalize.

Nicholls put the game out of the reach in the fifth after hitting a three-run home run.

The Southern offense managed four hits over of the course of five innings against Colonel pitcher Megan Landry. Center fielder Maris Boelens collected two of the four hits in the matchup.

GAME TWO vs. Southeastern Louisiana: L, 4-3

Claire Miller (0-1) made her first start as a Saluki in the loss. She was lights out through five innings, as she allowed no runs and a mere three hits.

"I was really proud of Claire Miller," Blaylock said. "She made one bad pitch and that was the pitch the home run hit on, but I thought the kids battled back really good."

Neither team got on the scoreboard in the first three innings of play and SIU was held hitless in that span as well.

But in the top of the fourth, the Southern bats awakened.

Maddy Vermejan led off the fourth with a hard-hit single to left field, reached second base on a sacrifice bunt by Susan Baranski and third on a groundout to the pitcher. Later in the inning, Katelyn Massa struck a single to right field to score Vermejan and give SIU their first run of the 2019 season and a 1-0 lead.

The Southeastern offense remained quiet until the bottom of the sixth, when cleanup hitter Ella Manzer hit a two-run homer off Miller to give the Lions a 2-1 lead at their home field.

With three outs remaining, the SIU offense rallied to score two runs on four hits.

The rally was sparked by Massa who began the seventh with a double down the left field line. It was her second double and third hit of the day. Eyrika Brandenburg came on to pitch run for Massa and later scored on a one-out double by Kyleigh Decker to tie the game, 2-2. Freshmen Ashley Wood then scored Decker on a line-drive double to left field — the third of the inning — to give SIU the lead back, 3-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, Southeastern started the inning off with back-to-back singles off Miller. With two on and no outs, SIU turned to Jones out of the pen and she retired her first two batters faced. But with two-outs and runners on second and third, three-hole hitter Rebecca Skains lined a walkoff two-run double to deep center field.

"I wish offensively we would have started a little faster," Blaylock said. "I thought that if we would have got on the kid a little earlier in the second game, it would have given us some cushion to potentially come away with the win.

NEXT UP

The Salukis are back in action against Nicholls State and San Jose State at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. tomorrow for day two of the Lion Classic.

"We are really challenging ourselves with our schedule this year early," Blaylock said. "We knew that we would have to fight for some things early, but we are ready to go"