Southern Illinois University
10-0
Northern Kentucky University
0-5
Salukis take two on day one of Saluki Invitational
03/05/2021 | 9:38:00 | Softball
Southern’s 20-game win streak is the second-longest in the nation
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University softball team won both of its games on day one of the Saluki Invitational Friday. The Salukis took game one over Northern Kentucky, 7-3 and followed with a 9-4 victory over the University of Illinois-Chicago in the nightcap.
The Salukis improved to 11-0 on the season with the two wins and have now won 20-straight games dating back to last season. Southern's 20-game win streak is the second-longest in the nation and remains its longest streak since 1991.
"I don't think we were sharp by any means but we were still able to come up with two wins," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "I give UIC and Northern Kentucky a lot of credit- they came after us. We're going to have to ready for that. No one is going to lay down to us. Those two teams competed hard today. I'm just glad we were able to come out with the wins to keep rolling."
After Northern Kentucky scored a run in each of the first two innings, Southern answered with a run in the third, two in the fifth and a four-spot in the sixth. The Norse got a run back in the seventh but Harness slammed the door shut for her fourth win of the season.
In the win over the Flames in the nightcap, SIU used a two-run home run from Jenny Jansen in the first inning and a solo shot by Riley Hamilton in the second to jump out to a 3-0 lead. UIC responded with two runs in the top of the fourth, but Southern came back with six runs over the next two innings to put the game out of reach.
Against the Norse, the Salukis cut NKU's lead in half with a RBI-single by Katelyn Massa in the bottom of the third. After a scoreless fourth for both teams, Southern took the lead for good on a sacrifice fly by Maris Boelens and a RBI-single by Jansen.
After Sarah Harness hung another zero, SIU added to their lead with a four-spot in the bottom of the sixth. Elisabeth Huckleberry and Sidney Sikes led off with back-to-back walks. Bailey Caylor followed with a single to load the bases and Maddy Vermejan brought two runs in with a double to right. Caylor came around to score on a wild pitch and Jansen followed with a RBI-single.
Harness improved to 4-0 in the circle with the win. She went the distance, scattered eight hits and allowed two runs while striking out seven and walking just one.
"I thought Sarah settled down well," Blaylock said. "Sometimes someone comes out and punches you in the mouth and you have to settle down. She got better and better as the game went along."
Five different Salukis recorded a hit in Friday's opener, which included three with multiple hits. Southern's 1-4 hitters went 6-for-13 with six RBI. Vermejan was 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, two RBI and three runs scored while Caylor was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Jansen was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
In the victory over UIC, Southern got out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Jansen's second home run of the season. After Eberle threw up a zero in the second, Hamilton connected on her first career home run to right to put SIU ahead 3-0.
The Flames got to Eberle in the fourth, as they used a walk and three hits to push two runs across. The Salukis didn't flinch though, as they hung a three-spot in the bottom half of the frame courtesy of a RBI-single by Boelens and a two-run double from Jansen.
Southern plated three more in the fifth. Jansen worked a two-out, bases loaded walk and Ashley Wood followed with a two-run single.
Eberle moved to 4-0 on the season with the win. The freshman from Gibson City, Ill. went six innings allowed four runs and struck out four. Carlee Jo Clark worked a scoreless seventh to seal the victory.
Six different Salukis tallied a hit in the win over UIC, which included three with multiple base knocks. Hamilton went 2-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored and a RBI while Jansen went 2-for-2 with a home run, a run scored and five RBI. Boelens went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI.
The Salukis will try to stay on the winning track when they take on Creighton at 12:15 p.m. on day two of the Saluki Invitational.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harness, Sarah (4-0)
L: Lauryn Hicks (0-4)
Batting:
2B: Megan Lenhart 1 ; Madi Mulder 1 ; Maddie Lacer 1
HR: Ava Lawson 1
RBI: Ava Lawson 1 ; Kendyl McKeough 1
SH: Jenna O'Hair 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ava Lawson 1 ; Megan Lenhart 1 ; Maddie Lacer 1
SB: Jenna O'Hair 1
CS: Ella LeMonier 1
Batting:
2B: Vermejan, Maddy 1
RBI: Vermejan, Maddy 2 ; Boelens, Maris 1 ; Jansen, Jenny 2 ; Massa, Katelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vermejan, Maddy 3 ; Huckleberry, Elisabeth 1 ; Warwick, Elizabeth 1 ; Caylor, Bailey 2
SB: Vermejan, Maddy 1 ; Caylor, Bailey 1
HBP: Sikes, Sidney 1
