Salukis take series opener from Sycamores, 5-1

Friday, April 12

Terre Haute, IN

3 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

24-10, 9-4

Indiana State University

14-25, 2-12

Southern Illinois

Indiana State

Photo by: Will Becque

04/12/2019 | 7:48:00 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

SIU scores five runs in the sixth and seventh innings to down Indiana State.

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

TERRE HAUTE — The Southern Illinois University softball team rallied to win their series opener against the Indiana State Sycamores, 5-1 Friday at Price Field.

Indiana State (14-25, 2-12 MVC) scored first, aided by a wind-blown solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Southern plated all five of its runs in the sixth and seventh innings, sparked by Jordan Spicer's two-run home run in the sixth.

"I was really proud of our kids," 20th-year head coach Kerri Blaylock said of the win. "I thought Bri threw a heck of a game and we made some incredible defensive plays. Maddy, Jenny and Katelyn were on point all day and we just needed that one big hit and Jordan Spicer came through with it."

Southern had at least one runner on in all seven innings and eight of SIU's nine starters recorded a hit in the win.

"That is the way it needs to be," Blaylock said of having eight different Salukis record a hit. "When you have an eight-hole hitter like Kyleigh Decker and a seven-hole hitter like Jordan Spicer who both have multiple home runs on the season, that's very helpful all the way though the lineup."

Brianna Jones got the win in the circle, as she scattered seven hits and allowed just one earned run to improve to 16-6 on the season. The win was the 83rd of Jones's storied career and she is just one win shy of tying Amy Harre's school record for career victories.

After both sides hung zeroes through the first three innings, the Sycamores struck first with an opposite field solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Southern used a strong defensive effort to get out of the inning unscathed. After a leadoff walk, Sidney Sikes snagged a line drive hit to her at third and threw over to first to double up the lead runner. The next batter hit a blooper that looked destined to find the outfield grass but Susie Baranski's diving catch got Southern out of the inning.

"Against Indiana State, a contact-driven ballclub, the left side of your infield has to be solid and I thought we did a really good job with that," Blaylock said.

In the top of the sixth, Jenny Jansen drew a four pitch walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Brown. Jordan Spicer cleared the bases with her fourth home run of the season to put Southern ahead, 2-1.

After Jones worked around a one-out single to get out of the sixth, Southern got to Indiana State reliever Arielle Blankenship in the top of the seventh. Maddy Vermejan led off with a single and Baranski moved her to second with a perfectly placed bunt single. After both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt, Katelyn Massa brought them home with a two-run double. Megan Brown then brought Massa's courtesy runner, Maris Boelens, in from second with a two-out single that made it 5-1.

At the plate, Vermejan and Baranski were both 2-for-2. Vermejan had a sacrifice and a walk while Baranski had two sacrifice bunts.

The Salukis and the Sycamores will complete their three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at Noon ET. Tomorrow's contests will be broadcast on ESPN3.