Southern Illinois University
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Northern Illinois University
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Salukis thump Huskies to highlight day two of Frost Classic
02/26/2022 | 6:47:00 | Softball
The Southern Illinois University softball team split on day two of the Frost Classic, hosted by Chattanooga. The Salukis thumped Northern Illinois, 11-3 before falling to the Butler Bulldogs, 7-2 in the nightcap.
In the win over the Huskies, the Salukis scored 10 of its 11 runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings while Madi Eberle threw six and two-third innings of one-hit relief.
After NIU scored two runs in the bottom of the first to chase SIU starting pitcher Alexis Rudd, Eberle came on and settled in to earn the win.
Eberle was terrific in relief, as she allowed just one hit and struck out two in six and two-third innings to improve to 2-3 on the season. The Gibson City, Ill. native faced just two over the minimum and needed just 69 pitches to lock down the victory.
Southern's offense was stellar in the win over the Huskies. Southern mashed a season-high 16 hits, which included a season-best four home runs. Five Salukis (Ashley Wood, Elizabeth Warwick, Jenny Jansen, Rylie Hamilton and Addi Baker) tallied multi-hit games and Southern's 1-thru-4 hitters led the way as they went 11-for-18 with six extra base hits and eight RBI.
The Huskies scored first courtesy of a leadoff single and a one-out home run in the bottom of the first. Eberle retired the next five batters in order and the Salukis tied the contest in the top of the third. Jansen led off the frame with a single and Hamilton brought her around to score on her first home run of the season.
The Salukis added to their lead with a four-spot in the top of the fourth courtesy of back-to-back home runs from Warwick and Jansen.
NIU used a walk and an error in the bottom of the fourth to get a run back but SIU's bats went back to work in the top of the fifth. Elisabeth Huckleberry drew a six-pitch walk to lead off the frame and Aubree DePron followed with a single. Addi Baker cleared the bases with her second home run of the season. After Tori Schullian walked, Ashley Wood doubled to bring her around to score.
In the nightcap, Butler scored five unanswered runs to build a lead that stood up.
SIU had their chances, as they left at least one runner stranded in six of seven innings.
After Southern plated the game's first run in the top of the third on Jansen's second home run of the day, Butler answered with five runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. The Bulldogs pushed a solo run across in the fourth inning and the Salukis answered with an Addie Baker sacrifice fly. Butler countered with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning to again extend its lead to five.
The Salukis are back in action next weekend when they host the Coach B Classic. Southern welcomes Ball State, Northwestern, Northern Kentucky and Murray State to Charlotte West Stadium beginning Friday, March 4.
NOTES
SIU's four home runs against NIU were its most in a game since hitting four against Missouri State on March 12, 2019 … Jansen tied her career-high with four hits against the Huskies, which also marked her second four hit game of the season … Addie Baker's three hits in the win over NIU were a career-best … Rylie Hamilton's home run in the win over NIU was the second of her career … SIU's 16 hits were its most since it tallied 16 hits at Bradley on April 21, 2018 … SIU improves to 20-13 all-time against NIU and has won seven of the last eight meetings between the two state schools …
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Eberle, Madi (2-3)
L: OSTROWSKI, Delaney (0-0)
Batting:
2B: Wood, Ashley 2 ; Warwick, Elizabeth 1
HR: Warwick, Elizabeth 1 ; Jansen, Jenny 1 ; Hamilton, Rylie 1 ; Baker, Addi 1
RBI: Wood, Ashley 1 ; Warwick, Elizabeth 3 ; Jansen, Jenny 2 ; Hamilton, Rylie 2 ; Baker, Addi 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Wood, Ashley 2 ; Warwick, Elizabeth 1 ; Jansen, Jenny 2 ; Hamilton, Rylie 1 ; Huckleberry, Elisabeth 1 ; DePron, Aubree 1 ; Baker, Addi 1 ; Eilers, Danyelle 1 ; Austin, Emma 1
SB: DePron, Aubree 1 ; Austin, Emma 1
HBP: Wood, Ashley 1
Batting:
HR: KELLER, Katie 1
RBI: KELLER, Katie 2
SH: BARONE, Bianca 1
Base Running:
RUNS: APATO, Kara 1 ; KELLER, Katie 2
