Southern Illinois University
Lake Land College
Saluki softball returns home for two on Saturday
09/20/2019 | 1:10:00 | Softball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Saluki softball team's fall ball season continues with a doubleheader Saturday, Sept. 21 against Lake Land College and Murray State at Charlotte West Stadium.
The Salukis are coming off of a pair of wins last weekend over John A. Logan College and Rend Lake College in which Southern's pitching staff didn't allow a run and surrendered just one extra base hit while SIU's offense scored 23 runs on 25 hits. Katelyn Massa led the way, as she went 5-for-5 on the afternoon with five RBI. Kerrigan Gamm went 3-for-4 with a home run while Jenny Jansen finished 3-for-7 with a double and four RBI.
All 15 Saluki hitters got at least one at-bat in the doubleheader sweep and all four of SIU's pitchers threw at least one inning. Seven Salukis tallied at least two hits and three hitters recorded three or more base knocks.
"I loved that we played absolutely everybody and that all four pitchers got game action," head coach Kerri Blaylock said of Southern's performance during the opening weekend of fall ball. "I love that we also got put in some challenging spots right off the bat where we could figure out and work through some things. I thought we did a really good job and that our energy was good."
The opening weekend allowed SIU to get a look at its entire roster, as all 18 Salukis played including all five newcomers; Kerrigan Gamm, Carlee Jo Clark, Tori Schullian, Aubree Depron and Sarah Harness. Gamm saw action behind the plate and at DH while Clark and Harness combined to shutout John A. Logan in the circle. Schullian and Depron both played extensively in the outfield and showcased their collective speed on the base paths with a stolen base and four runs scored between them.
"I was pleased with how our freshmen did this past weekend," Blaylock said. "They came in and played very well."
Not only did the newcomers get their first game action as Salukis, but Southern was able to see its returners play multiple positions. For instance, All-MVC first team outfielder Jenny Jansen played center field, third base and shortstop during the doubleheader, while Sidney Sikes saw time at both third and behind the plate.
"We are so versatile," Blaylock said. "We've started to recruit a lot of athletes that can play multiple positions. In doing that, our flexibility within our lineup is off the charts."
This weekend, Southern hosts the Lake Land College Lakers and the Murray State Racers.
The Lakers return nine from a team that went 50-19 a season ago and made their eighth trip in nine years to the NJCAA National Tournament.
Murray State welcomes nine newcomers to a squad that went 26-27 last season. The Salukis split against the Racers in 2019, as Murray State took the opener, 5-3, before Southern returned the favor with a 4-0 win behind a three-hit complete game shutout from Holly Marousek.
Southern opens Saturday's action against Lake Land at noon before taking on Murray State at 4 p.m. Lake Land and Murray State will face off at 2 p.m. Admission for kids 12 and under is free.
