Salukis close out pre-conference play at Blazer Classic

The Southern Illinois University softball team will put its 23-game win streak on the line this weekend at the Blazer Classic, hosted by the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The Salukis are 14-0 and off to their best start to a season in program history.

Weekend Schedule
Friday, March 12 vs. Ball State (1:30 p.m.)
Friday, March 12 vs. UAB (6:30 p.m.)
Saturday, March 13 vs. Samford (10 a.m.)
Saturday, March 13 vs. UAB (3 p.m.)
Sunday, March 14 vs. Samford (11 a.m.)

23-straight wins

Southern has won 23-straight games dating back to last season. SIU won its final nine games in 2020 before the season was brought to a halt.
It's tied for the longest win streak in school history and is the longest since the 1991 Salukis, who won 23-straight games en route to a conference title and a NCAA Regional appearance.
It is the longest win streak in Kerri Blaylock's 22 seasons as SIU's head coach. Blaylock was a first-year assistant coach for the 1991 Salukis.

2nd-longest win streak in the country

Southern's 23-game win streak ranks second to No. 1 Oklahoma's 24-game win streak for longest in the nation.

Best Start in Program history

Southern's 14-0 start is its best start to a season in program history. The Salukis bested the previous record of 12, set by the 1991 team.
SIU is one of three teams with double-digit wins without a loss. No. 1 Oklahoma (18-0) and No. 9 Kentucky (19-0) are the others.

Streaking at Charlotte West Stadium

Southern has won 20-straight home games dating back to the 2019 season. SIU's last loss at home came on May 4, 2019.
SIU's 20-game home win streak is the third-longest in the nation. Drake's 28-game home win streak is the longest.

Receiving Votes

Southern received more votes in the most recent NFCA Top-25 coaches poll and in the ESPN.com/USA Today Top-25 Poll.
The Salukis received two votes two weeks ago, 11 votes the following week and 27 votes in the most recent poll.
Southern's 27 votes puts it 27th in the most recent NFCA Coaches Poll.
SIU joins Louisiana (Sun Belt; No. 14) and UCF (AAC; No. 24) as the only non-Power 5 programs to rank in the top-30. Liberty (ASUN; No. 31) joins the trio in the Top-35.
Southern also received a vote in the most recent ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top-25.

Undefeated Still

Southern is one of nine teams to remain undefeated.
Of those nine teams, SIU is one of just three with at least 10 wins.
The Salukis' 14 wins are tied for the 15th-most in DI. It is the third-most wins of any Non-Power 5 team. Troy and Liberty both have 16 wins.

Turning Two

The Salukis have turned 10 double plays in 14 games (.71/game) this season.
Southern ranks eighth nationally in double plays per game.
SIU turned six double plays in 21 games (.29) in 2020 and turned 12 in 49 games (.24) in 2019.

Getting on

Southern ranks first in the Valley, and 29th nationally, with a .417 on-base percentage.
SIU's on-base percentage is aided by having already drawn 68 walks (4.8/game)- the 10th-most in the DI.
The Salukis have drawn at least three walks in each of its 14 games this season, which includes a season-high nine in the 9-4 win over UIC on March 5.

Setting the table

Maddy Vermejan leads the Valley, and ranks 13th nationally with a .642 on-base percentage.
Vermejan has reached base in 13 of SIU's 14 games this season. She's walked in 13 of Southern's 14 games and tallied at least one hit in 10 games this season.
Vermejan's .467 career on-base percentage ranks second to Shaye Harre (.476) and is the highest for a right-handed hitter in program history.
Vermejan's .93 walks per game lead the Valley.

Taking one for the team

Maddy Vermejan has been hit by 66 pitches in her career- which are the second-most among active DI players.
Vermejan's 66 hit by pitches rank second to Allie Vadeboncouer for most in school history. Vadeboncouer was plunked 71 times during her career.

Harness named MVC Pitcher of the Week

Sarah Harness has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second-straight week.
Harness went 3-0 with a 1.21 earned run average in 17 and a third innings of work to help the Salukis go 5-0 at the Saluki Invitational and improve to 14-0 on the season.
Harness allowed just three earned runs, held batters to a .215 batting average and posted a terrific 22:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
The sophomore pitcher leads the league in wins (6) and ranks third in strikeouts (53).

She's just a freshman

Madi Eberle went 2-0 with a 3.23 earned run average in 13 innings of work to help the Salukis go 5-0 at the Saluki Invitational.
Eberle allowed six earned runs and held opposing hitters to a .227 batting average. She struck out 10 while walking just three.
Eberle carried a no-hitter into the seventh in SIU's 6-2 win over St. Louis and allowed just two earned runs on three hits with six strikeouts.
She leads all Valley freshmen, and ranks fourth nationally amongst true freshmen, in wins (5).
She also leads all Valley freshmen in walks allowed per seven innings (1.45).

Leading from the circle

Southern leads the Valley in both earned run average (1.98) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.45).
Harness ranks second in the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.62), third in strikeouts (53) and third in strikeouts per seven innings (8.7).
SIU has finished second in ERA in both 2019 and 2020. Southern last finished with an ERA under two in 2007. The 2007 season marked the final year of an 11 year stretch in which the Salukis posted a team ERA below two.

Head of the Class

SIU ranks top-3 in the Valley in nearly every statistical category.
1st - Earned run average - 1.98
1st - Double Plays per game - .71
1st - On-Base Percentage - .417
1st - Strikeout-to-Walk ratio - 4.45
1st - Walks - 68
2nd - Doubles - 18
2nd - Field Percentage - .975
2nd - Scoring - 5.43
2nd - Stolen Bases per game - 1.93
3rd - Batting Average - .279

Scouting the opposition

Ball State (5-5)

Ball State was picked to finish third in the MAC Preseason poll.
SIU is one of two teams to hold the Ball State offense to one run or fewer this season.
The Cardinals offense averages 7.6 hits and 4.8 runs per game and hold a 3.19 earned run average.

All-time vs. the Cardinals

The Salukis lead the all-time series, 11-7, in a matchup that dates back to 1980.
Southern has won five of the last six meetings and seven of the last nine dating back to 1989.
SIU won the most recent meeting- a 6-1 win on Feb. 27, 2021.

UAB (9-9)

• UAB's 9-9 record in deceiving, given they have played seven games (1-6) against ranked opponents, which includes a run-rule win over Ole Miss.
• The Blazers were picked to finish second in the Conference USA West Division.
• Joe Guthrie is in his first season as UAB's head coach.
• UAB averages 4.82 runs per game and holds a 3.19 earned run average.

All-time vs. the Blazers

Southern is 3-1 all-time against UAB.
All four meetings between the two programs have been decided by two or fewer runs, which includes three one-run decisions.
The Salukis won the most recent meeting between the two programs- a 4-3 win in eight innings at Madeira Beach, Fla. on Feb. 17, 2017.
Maddy Vermejan, who was playing in her seventh career game at Southern, entered SIU's Feb. 17th win in the sixth as a pinch runner.

Samford (7-9)

• Samford's 7-9 record is also deceiving, as they are 0-5 against SEC schools.
• The Bulldogs are 3-1 this season against MVC schools. Samford posted two wins over UNI and split with Indiana State.
• Samford was picked to finish fourth in the SoCon's annual preseason poll. Samford pitcher Abby Swaney was chosen as the league's preseason pitcher of the year.
• The Bulldogs average 3.31 runs per game and have a team ERA of 4.22.

All-time vs. the Bulldogs

SIU is 4-0 all-time against the Bulldogs
Southern swept a two-game series at Samford on March 15, 2005. SIU won game one, 1-0, behind a one-hitter from Cassidy Scoggins and followed with an 11-0, five inning win in which Amy Harre matched Scoggins by allowing just one hit.
Prior to the two-game series in 2005, the two schools played single games in 1993 and 1994.

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Players Mentioned

Madi Eberle

Sarah Harness

Maddy Vermejan

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