Southern Illinois University
0-4
Middle Tennessee
4-3
Salukis drop a pair of close games on day one of The Spring Games
02/14/2020 | 5:37:00 | Softball
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — The Southern Illinois University softball team suffered a pair of close losses on day one of The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Fla. The Salukis fell to Middle Tennessee, 3-1, in the opener and dropped a 4-1 decision to Purdue in the nightcap.
"I feel like we've had a lot of tough luck," 21st year head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We had two balls that were home runs had they not been pulled back over the fence. But I thought the bright spot today was our freshmen pitchers. They both threw really well and stepped up. We just need to keep our heads up and keep grinding."
In game one against the Blue Raiders, Southern got a run back in the bottom of the seventh on Kyleigh Decker's first home run of the season. After Maddy Vermejan worked a two-out walk, SIU sent the tying run to the plate but couldn't complete the comeback.
Vermejan was one of five different Salukis to draw a walk in the opening game and Southern drew a total of six. Megan Brown hit a double and would've had a home run to go along with it had it not been for Middle Tennessee's center fielder Kelci Hill. With MTSU leading 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Brown blasted a pitch to deep center that Hill was able to reach over and bring back for the second out of the inning.
Sarah Harness took the tough luck loss, as she recorded her first collegiate quality start. The freshman hurler went the distance and allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out three. She was undone by a pair of home runs- a solo shot in the second and a two-run blast in the sixth.
"Sarah was fantastic today," Blaylock said. "Middle Tennessee had two big flies but other than those she had some big strikeouts in key situations."
In game two, Purdue scored its four runs in the first four innings to build a lead that stood up.
Southern had its chances against the upstart Boilermakers. In the first, the Salukis were again victim of a home run robbery, this time at the hands of Purdue's Skye Webb. Jenny Jansen crushed a pitch to deep center that would've gave SIU an early 1-0 lead, had it not been for Webb, who crashed into the fence to snag the long fly ball and end the inning.
In the third inning, SIU got one back with a RBI-single by Sidney Sikes and put runners on first and second with one out, but couldn't find a gap to bring either run across.
Carlee Jo Clark earned her first collegiate complete game against the Boilermakers. The freshman twirler surrendered just two earned runs on eight hits- seven of which were singles.
"CJ gave up just two earned runs against a good Purdue team," Blaylock said. "I told both CJ and Sarah that they got better from last week to this week which is all we can ask for. We want to get better every week."
The Salukis will have two more chances tomorrow to get back on the winning track. Southern opens the day against South Dakota at 11 a.m. ET before taking on 2019 NCAA Tournament participant Monmouth at 1:30 p.m. ET.
"If you're a competitor, you just have to get up tomorrow and go compete," Blaylock said. "I'm going to bet on our hitters that they will get it turned around. You get up, compete, relax and then go play ball again. Just as we have lost five in a row we can go out and win five in a row."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BALDWIN, Amber (2-0)
L: Harness, Sarah (0-3)
Batting:
HR: DE LA CRUZ, Jocelynn 1 ; CUSHING, Lexi 1
RBI: DE LA CRUZ, Jocelynn 2 ; CUSHING, Lexi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McGEE, Keely 1 ; DE LA CRUZ, Jocelynn 1 ; CUSHING, Lexi 1
SB: BURGESS, Summer 1 ; RODRIGUEZ, Lani 1 ; FREEMAN, Savannah 1
Batting:
2B: Brown, Megan 1
HR: Decker, Kyleigh 1
RBI: Decker, Kyleigh 1
SH: Vermejan, Maddy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Decker, Kyleigh 1
SB: Decker, Kyleigh 1
