Softball hosts Drake for big weekend series

Saturday, March 16

Carbondale, Ill.

1 P.M.

Southern Illinois University

Drake University

03/15/2019 | 11:02:00 | Softball

SIU vs. Drake Game Notes

By: By Alex Underwood, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois softball team (13-7) hosts Drake (12-12) for their second conference matchup and first three-game series of the 2019 season.

Slight adjustments have been made to the series due to anticipated cold temperatures. Southern's Saturday doubleheader against Drake will start at 1 p.m., and Sunday's seven-inning tilt between the two teams will begin at 12 p.m. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available as well.

ALL-TIME VS. THE BULLDOGS

The Salukis lead the all-time series, 56-33 dating back to 1984.
Southern is 29-21 against Drake under 20th-year head coach Kerri Blaylock.
The two teams last played in the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Championship game, where Drake came out on top, 4-1.
Drake has won the last four games, but SIU swept the Bulldogs in a three-game series in 2017.

NATIONALLY RANKED SALUKIS

(Top-50 only)

Jenny Jansen ranks 46th nationally with a .446 batting average. She is 17-for-32 (.531) at the plate in her last 10 games.
Brianna Jones is 21st in the nation in saves (2), 25th in shutouts (3), and 28th in wins (9). Her 26 victories last season ranked 16th.
Ashley Wood's average of 1.15 runs batted in per game ranks 42nd. She has tallied 16 of her 23 RBI in the past 10 games.

MVC LEADING SALUKIS

Ashley Wood in RBI (23)
Jenny Jansen in doubles (7)
Brianna Jones in wins (9)
Maddy Vermejan in fielding percentage (1.000)
Team in fielding percentage (.975)
Team in fewest errors (14)
Team in fewest steals against (10)
On-base percentage (.405)

PERFECTION IN THE CIRCLE

Brianna Jones threw the fifth perfect game in school history in the 16-0, run-rule win over Butler last Sunday.
Jones needed just 57 pitches to set all 15 batters she faced on Sunday.
She became the first pitcher in program history to throw two perfect games in a single-season as well as in a career.
She is the only pitcher in NCAA Division I to throw two perfect games this season.
She is just the sixth player in NCAA Division I softball to record multiple no-hitters.
She is joined by USC Upstate's Christina Biggerstaff, Louisiana's Kandra Lamb, Virginia Tech's Keely Rochard, UCLA's Megan Faraimo and Houston's Trystan Melancon in doing so.

RECORD WATCH

Jones continues to climb higher in SIU's record books in nearly every pitching statistic. The senior now holds top-five career marks in six categories.

Second all-time in innings pitched (724.2 IP)
Second all-time in appearances (143)
Second all-time in complete games (81)
Third all-time in wins (76)
Third all-time in shutouts (24)
Fourth all-time in saves (11)

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

SIU has outscored opponents 42-17 in eight games at Charlotte West Stadium this season.
Junior first baseman Kyleigh Decker has hit .350 with a team-high three home runs in home games.
The SIU pitching staff has limited opposing teams to two runs or less in six of eight games and holds an ERA of 1.88.
Newcomer Claire Miller is 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA and 14 strikeouts in five home appearances. She is holding batters to a .190 clip at the plate.

SPEED IN THE LINEUP

Through 20 games, the Salukis are already closing in on last year's steal total of 33.
This season, they are 28-for-30 in stolen base attempts.
The two times being caught stealing are the second fewest in the MVC.
Both Decker and Susie Baranski have stole six bags, while Maddy Vermejan in third on the team with four.
SIU has also held opponents to an MVC-low 10 steals.

FIELDING EXCELLENCE

The Salukis currently lead the MVC and rank 18th nationally with a .974 fielding percentage.
Southern has committed just 14 errors through 20 games this season.
Reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year, Maddy Vermejan, has proved that last season was no fluke, as she holds a perfect fielding percentage through 19 starts at second base.