Softball hosts Murray State on Tuesday

Tuesday, April 2

Carbondale, Ill.

4 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

Murray State University

Photo by: Will Becque

04/01/2019 | 1:42:00 | Softball

Game Notes vs. Murray State

The Salukis play the first of their two mid-week games Tuesday at 4 p.m.

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois University softball team will play its first of two mid-week games this week when it hosts the Murray State Racers on Tuesday, April 2 at 4 p.m. After hosting the Racers on Tuesday, Southern will make the short trip to St. Louis to take on the Billikens on Wednesday, April 3 at 4 p.m.

The Salukis will wear their special Donate Life jerseys for all home games this month, including Tuesday's game against Murray State.

All-time vs. Murray State

This will mark the 11th meeting between Murray State and SIU and the second this season.
The Salukis are 6-4 all-time vs. the Racers after Murray State won the first meeting this season on March 1- a 5-3 victory in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Southern is 4-2 all-time at home against Murray State.

Last Time Out vs. Murray State

Murray State raced out to a 2-0 lead with a one-out, two run home run in the top of the first and tacked on two more in the top of the third courtesy of a second two-run home run.
Southern hung up a crooked number in the bottom half of the third with three runs on three hits, including a RBI-double by Jenny Jansen.
Murray State added to its lead in the top of the seventh with a solo home run.
Jansen was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI and accounted for two of SIU's five hits.

Current Salukis vs. the Racers

Maddy Vermejan has a .429 (6-for-14) career batting average in four career games against the Racers. She has a double, a triple, three RBI and four runs scored in those four games.
Meredith Wernig made her first career start at second base against Murray State on March 1 and notched her first collegiate base hit.
Susie Baranski in a .375 (6-for-16) career hitter in five career games against Murray State. During her freshman season, Baranski went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in SIU's 8-7 loss to Murray State on March 5, 2017.
Kyleigh Decker is hitting .385 (5-for-13) in five career games against Murray State. Two of Decker's five hits against the Racers have been doubles.
No current Saluki has a home run against the Racers.

Scouting the Racers

The Racers are 15-17 on the season and come into Carbondale having won three-straight and are one win shy of tying their win total from a year ago.
Three of Murray State's losses have come against ranked opponents and the Racers are 0-12 this season against Top-100 RPI teams.
The Racers are coming off a 1-0 win over Belmont that saw starting pitcher Hannah James throw the third seven-inning perfect game in program history.
Lillie Goetz is leading Murray State at the dish, as she's hitting .352 with a .582 slugging percentage. She leads the OVC in doubles (12) and is second in the league in walks (18).
Hannah James is the staff workhouse in the circle, as she's thrown 105.1 innings and amassed an 8-8 record and a 2.66 ERA. She got the win against SIU earlier this season.
Four different pitchers have recorded wins in the circle for the Racers and six players have thrown at least four innings.

All-time vs. St. Louis

This will mark the 52nd meeting between St. Louis and Southern Illinois University.
SIU holds a commanding 47-4 lead in the all-time series.
Southern has won three-straight and four of its last five meetings against Saint Louis.
The Salukis won 24-straight games against the Billikens from 1992-2002.
SIU run-ruled St. Louis, 10-0 in five innings on March 2 behind Brianna Jones' perfect game. Ashley Wood hit two of SIU's three home runs in the win.

Scouting the Billikens

St. Louis is 9-21 on the season and have lost three of its last four games.
Sadie Wise, who last season was the first Billiken freshman to earn a spot on the All-Atlantic 10 first team, is tied for second in the Atlantic 10 in home runs (16) and third in the league in RBI (47).
The Billikens are second in the A-10 in batting average (.286), hits (230), doubles (47) and extra base hits (67). In the circle, Saint Louis ranks ninth in the A-10 in ERA (5.60) and batting average against (.339).