Southern Illinois University
18-2
Southeast Missouri State University
7-10
Salukis improve to 18-2 with 6-2 win over Redhawks
03/16/2021 | 6:58:00 | Softball
SIU has now won five-straight over SEMO.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University softball team improved to 18-2 on the season Tuesday with a 6-2 win over SEMO at Charlotte West Stadium.
The Salukis plated at least one run in each of the first four innings, which included a three-run first that gave Saluki starting pitcher Sarah Harness all the run support she needed.
"Offensively we started out well with three runs in the first and then we did a good job of adding to that over the next couple of innings," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "I was a little disappointed in our at-bats, especially late in the game. I felt like we relaxed a little bit so we talked about that after the game and how we need to be better throughout the whole game. I thought Sarah did a good job in the circle today. She was a little out of a gas after all of the innings that she threw this weekend but she gutted it out and got the win."
Harness improved to 8-1 on the season after she threw her sixth complete game of the season Tuesday. The sophomore hurler allowed two earned runs on eight hits, struck out seven and walked just one against the preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorites, who led the OVC in both slugging percentage and on-base percentage in 2020.
Southern's defense behind Harness was tremendous. The Salukis, who came into the contest ranked 17th nationally with a .980 fielding percentage, tallied their 12th errorless game of the season Tuesday and made several highlight worthy plays. With two outs in the fourth, Jenny Jansen fielded a grounder at short that would've made for a close play at first and instead fired to third to get the lead runner who was attempting to advance. In the sixth, Sidney Sikes dove to her right at third and stole a hit away for the inning's second out.
SIU showcased its plate discipline early and often in the win. The Salukis, who currently lead the nation in walks, drew eight walks Tuesday, which included a bases loaded free pass in the top of the first to plate the game's first run.
"We have great pitching and great defense," Blaylock said. "Any time you have those two, you can win ball games. Jen does such a great job with our hitters, and they have such a strong knowledge of the strike zone that they know what pitches to go after."
After Elizabeth Warwick's bases loaded walk got SIU on the board in the bottom of the first, Elisabeth Huckleberry followed with a two out, two-run single to put Southern ahead 3-0.
SIU added to its lead in the bottom of the second. Maris Boelens and Jenny Jansen earned back-to-back two out walks and Katelyn Massa made SEMO pay with a RBI-single up the middle to make it 4-0.
The Redhawks got a run back in the top of the third with a solo home run but the Salukis countered with yet another two-out RBI. Bailey Caylor laid down a perfect bunt single that scored Danyelle Eilers from third to push Southern's lead to 5-1.
Southern broke the game further open in the fifth, as Massa turned on a changeup for her second home run of the season- a solo shot to left.
"She had already thrown her changeup to me in my previous at-bat so I knew to sit back and wait on it," Massa said of her home run. "I saw the changeup right out of her hand, and I don't typically like to hit changeups, but I got a hold of that one."
The Redhawks got a run back in the fifth thanks to back-to-back singles to open the frame but that was all they could get.
Massa led the Salukis at the plate, as she went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, a run scored and 2 RBIs. Jansen, Caylor and Huckleberry also recorded hits in the victory. Vermejan was hit by two pitches Tuesday to break the school record for most hit by pitches in a career with 72.
The Salukis will open conference play on Saturday when they host the Drake Bulldogs. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harness, Sarah (8-1)
L: HOLMAN, Paytience (1-5)
Batting:
2B: ANDERSON, Rachel 1
HR: PAULEY, Austine 1
RBI: ANDERSON, Kaylee 1 ; PAULEY, Austine 1
SH: ANDERSON, Rachel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PAULEY, Austine 1 ; WRIGLEY, Kynzie 1
SB: ROBINSON, Kelby 1
HBP: ANDERSON, Jillian 1
Batting:
HR: Massa, Katelyn 1
RBI: Massa, Katelyn 2 ; Huckleberry, Elisabeth 2 ; Caylor, Bailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Boelens, Maris 2 ; Jansen, Jenny 1 ; Massa, Katelyn 1 ; Wernig, Meredith 1 ; Eilers, Danyelle 1
SB: Eilers, Danyelle 1
HBP: Vermejan, Maddy 2 ; Boelens, Maris 1
