Marousek's three-hitter leads Salukis to sixth-straight win

Tuesday, April 2

Carbondale, Ill.

4 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

19-9

Murray State University

15-18

Murray State

Southern Illinois

Photo by: Will Becque

04/02/2019 | 7:07:00 | Softball

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The sophomore transfer retired 17-straight batters to close out the win.

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill — Sophomore transfer Holly Marousek threw a dominant three-hit, complete game shutout in the circle to lead the Southern Illinois Salukis to a 4-0 win over the Murray State Racers on Tuesday at Charlotte West Stadium.

The win was the sixth-straight for the Salukis, who used a four-run bottom of the second, highlighted by back-to-back solo home runs from Katelyn Massa and Megan Brown, to give Marousek all the run support she needed.

The sophomore from Chicago, Ill. scattered three hits in the first two innings but settled in after that, as she retired the next 17 batters she faced. She struck out three and didn't issue a walk to improve to 2-1 on the season.

"I thought Holly settled down after the first inning and threw very, very well and Katelyn and Megan stepped up big," 20th-year head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "I had to throw Holly into an outing earlier this season where she wasn't warm and she kind of got beat around so it took a little bit to get her confidence back up. But her last few outings have been great. She is going to play a big role for us as we go through the conference season."

The defense behind Marousek was up to the task all game long. In the top of the first, Murray State looked as though they were going to strike first, as they led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Marousek got Lillie Goetz to fly out to Megan Brown in right field, and Brown then gunned down the trail runner at second who was attempting to tag up. Marousek got the fourth batter of the inning to pop out to Brown in right to get out of the first unscathed.

"The key of the game was the great defensive play in the first inning," Blaylock said. "They were rallying and Megan Brown did a great job of knowing what base to throw it to and we doubled them up to get out of the inning without giving up a run."

Marousek settled in from there, as she worked around a one-out double in the top of the second to keep the game scoreless.

Massa then led off the second with her fourth home run of the season and Brown followed with her fourth of the season to chase Murray State starting pitcher Taylor Makowsky. Southern used five-straight two-out walks, which included two hit by pitches, to plate two more runs in the frame.

That was more than enough for Marousek, who didn't allow a base runner after the second, thanks in part to SIU's exceptional defense.

"The defense was really working hard and that drove me to settle down and keep getting outs," Marousek said.

In the third, Sidney Sikes laid out in foul territory to snag the second out of the inning. In the fourth, Ashley Wood and Kyleigh Decker collided on an infield pop-up but Wood held on to the ball to record the third out. In the sixth, Maddy Vermejan fielded a ball that tipped off Marousek's glove and fired it just in time to first for the second out of the inning. In all, Marousek induced 13 pop ups and four ground outs.

At the plate, Ashley Wood was 2-for-3 with a walk and a RBI while Brown went 2-for-3 with a home run and a RBI.

The Salukis are back in action tomorrow, April 3 when they travel to St. Louis, Mo. to take on the St. Louis Billikens for a mid-week game starting at 4 p.m.