Drake sweeps doubleheader from Saluki Softball, 6-0 and 6-4

Saturday, March 16

Carbondale, Ill.

1 P.M.

Southern Illinois University

13-8, 0

Drake University

13-12, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Drake	0	1	0	0	3	1	1	6	9	0
Southern Illinois	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1

03/16/2019 | 6:28:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score Photo Gallery

By: By Tom Weber, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. — In a key Missouri Valley Conference softball matchup between the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams, Drake swept a doubleheader from Southern Illinois, 6-0 and 6-4, behind dominant pitching performances by ace right-hander Nicole Newman.

A hard-throwing senior, Newman (8-6) was the winner in both games, tossing 9.2 shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 19. In game one, Newman fanned 15 and the only hit she allowed was a slap single to left field in the fourth inning by Salukis' second baseman Susie Baranski.

In game two, Newman entered in the bottom of the fifth with the score tied, 4-4. She inherited runners at second and third with one out and retired two batters on a strikeout and a fly out to end the threat. Newman pitched scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh to pick up career victory No. 71.

"I will go on record to say I think she's the best pitcher to ever throw in our conference," said SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock. "You can't go two strikes with her. You have to get on something early, and if you don't, she'll dice you up."

Bri Jones (9-6) pitched a complete game for the Salukis (13-8, 1-3) in game one, but took the loss, surrendering six runs on nine hits. Southern was patient and drew four walks in the game, but left six runners on base. The team combined for 11 hits in the second game — 10 against starter Nicole Timmons — and stranded seven. Second baseman Maddy Vermejan was 4-for-4 in game two.

Twice, Southern battled back from deficits in game two to take the lead. After falling behind, 2-0, the Salukis scored three times in the bottom of the second with all of the runs coming with two outs. Baranski delivered a clutch two-out single to left that scored Kyleigh Decker and pinch runner Meredith Wernig. Maddy Vermejan followed with another hit to left field that scored Johnson to put SIU ahead, 3-2, but Baranski was cut down at home on a close play at the plate.

Drake scored two runs to regain the lead, 4-3, on a double by Hannah Pals in the fifth inning, but the Salukis came right back to tie it in the bottom half of the frame with three-straight singles to load the bases and a sac fly by Jenny Jansen that chased Timmons from the contest.

"Offensively, I thought we did a really good job of coming back," Blaylock said. "Timmons is a very good pitcher. We did a really good job knocking her out."

Drake (14-12, 2-0) scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the sixth off starter Claire Miller (4-2) to regain the lead, 6-4. The runs scored after Southern appeared to retire Taryn Pena for the third out on a pop up to Decker at first base. Instead, the play was overturned due to an illegal substitution, and Pena used new life to single home the go-ahead run and extend the inning.

The teams will play game three of the series on Sunday at noon in a pitching rematch between Newman and Jones.

"We have a lot of physical tools and we have to fight through some adverse situations, whether it be good pitchers or we're struggling defensively, maybe hitters are getting on us," Blaylock explained. "We have to try to learn to fight through some of that adversity."