Softball falls to Murray State at Coach B Classic

Friday, March 1

Chattanooga, Tn.

4:15 p.m. (CT)

Southern Illinois University

10-4

Murray State University

5-9

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

03/01/2019 | 8:19:00 | Softball

Box Score

By: By Alex Underwood, SIUSalukis.com

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Southern Illinois University softball team lost to Murray State, 5-3, on day one of the Coach B Classic at Frost Stadium. SIU (10-4) fell behind early and could not diminish a four-run deficit set in the third inning to the Racers (5-9). The loss was Southern's second in the last 12 games.

"Our losses this year have come when we don't necessarily have quality at bats early in the game," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "That is something we need to work on and I thought our energy was a little low as well."

Senior ace Brianna Jones (7-2) started in the circle for Southern and gave up four runs on four hits and one walk in 2.1 innings of work. All four runs came off a pair of homers from Lilly Goetz and Madison Culver.

Junior transfer Claire Miller pitched the remaining 4.2 innings for SIU. Miller held Racer batters hitless in her first four innings and struck out five in that span as well. In the top of the seventh, she allowed her first hit of the game, which was a home run that increased SIU's deficit to 5-3. After giving up a double to her next batter faced, she recovered and retired two-straight batters to end the inning.

"I thought Claire came in and settled us down," Blaylock said. "She threw really well and gave us an opportunity to win."

Southern, behind 4-0, answered back with a three-run inning in the third to reduce the deficit to one.

Meredith Wernig, making her first career start at SIU, delivered a one-out single to left field and the next batter, Susie Baranski, reached base on an error to give the Salukis runners on first and second with one out. The two advanced to second and third on a wild pitch and later scored on a two-out single to center field from Eyrika Brandenburg. Jenny Jansen then stepped to the plate and drilled a double to right field to score Brandenburg from first, which made the score 4-3 in favor of the Racers.

"I really want to praise Meredith Wernig," Blaylock said. "She got her first career start and has been doing a great job. We were shorthanded today, playing without Maddy Vermejan and Maris Boelens, and I thought the kids that stepped in to play for them did a good job."

For the remainder of the game, Murray starting pitcher Hannah James (4-4) shut down the Saluki offense, as Southern tallied two hits and reached scoring position only once. James earned the complete-game win for the Racers.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Salukis had one last chance to tie or win the game, but went down in order to clinch the win for Murray.

Despite the loss, Brandenburg had a season-best performance at the plate. The senior collected a season-high two runs batted in and matched her season high in hits with one.

On defense, Southern committed one error in seven innings played. The error occurred on the first play of the game.

The Salukis are back in action tomorrow for day two of the Coach B Classic. Southern will open the day against Saint Louis at 9 a.m. CT and face No. 17 Kentucky at 1:30 p.m. CT.