Southern Illinois University
19-13, 8-5
Valparaiso University
9-20, 1-10
Salukis take two from Beacons
04/10/2022 | 9:26:00 | Softball
The Southern Illinois University softball team swept its Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader from the Valparaiso Beacons on Sunday, April 10. The Salukis scored six unanswered runs to down the Beacons, 10-4 in game one, and used a three-hitter from Madi Eberle to cruise to a 10-1 victory in game two.Â
The Salukis won game one after they scored six unanswered runs in the game's final four innings, which included a five-run fourth. In game two, Southern used another five-run inning, this time in the first inning, to give Eberle all the run support she needed. SIU tacked on a run in the fifth and four in the seventh for good measure.Â
"Both Madi and Sarah had really good natural movement on their pitches today," interim head coach Jen Sewell said. "The ball danced around well for them. It took us a minute to settle down and get use to Valpo's field because that's the first time we all have played there with the exception of Jenny (Jansen). So once we figured it out, our offense got rolling."
In the opener, Southern slugged out 11 hits and tied a season-high with 13 walks. The Salukis followed with 13 hits in their series-clinching win in the nightcap.
"We did a good of seeing a ton of pitches," Sewell said. "We had a good idea of what Valpo's number one pitcher was like but we didn't have a good idea as far as what their two, three and four pitchers were going to throw. So I thought it was smart of them to pitch a mix of kids against us in order to save their No. 1 pitcher for the second game. We didn't go out of the strike zone much and we made them bring each pitch onto the plate."
Southern got on the board in game one after it used five walks to push across two runs in the top of the first. The Salukis extended their lead to three in the second on a RBI-single by Rylie Hamilton.
After Valpo cut its deficit to one with a pair of runs in the bottom-half of the second, Elizabeth Warwick led off the third with her fifth home run of the season to again put SIU ahead by two. The Beacons, however, answered with a pair of runs in the home half of third to tie the game at 4-all.
The Salukis didn't waver and went back to work in the fourth. Three of the first four batters in the frame earned walks to load the bases with one out and Tori Schullian (RBI-single), Elisabeth Huckleberry (RBI-single), and Aubree DePron (two-run double) provided the hits needed to break the game open.Â
Sarah Harness improved to 12-7 on the year after she went the distance in the opener. She allowed just one earned run on nine hits to go along four strikeouts.
All nine Salukis reached base safely in the opener, which included seven with at least one hit. Rylie Hamilton went 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored while Warwick was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
Southern kept its foot on the pedal in game two. The Salukis used five hits and took advantage of two errors to hand Eberle a five run lead before she threw a pitch.
The Gibson City, Ill. native twirled a gem from there. She did not allow an earned run and scattered just three hits, all of which were singles. She also struck out six and did not issue a walk.
All nine Salukis again reached base safely at least once in game two, which included nine different Salukis with at least one hit. Hamilton, Sidney Sikes, Warwick and Huckleberry each had a pair of hits, while Reagan McGahey socked the first hit of her collegiate career.
Southern will go for the three-game sweep of Valparaiso tomorrow at Noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Eberle, Madi (5-6)
L: Seib, Easton (5-9)
Batting:
2B: Sikes, Sidney 1 ; Huckleberry, Elisabeth 1
RBI: Hamilton, Rylie 1 ; Sikes, Sidney 2 ; Warwick, Elizabeth 2 ; Huckleberry, Elisabeth 2 ; Caylor, Bailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DePron, Aubree 1 ; Hamilton, Rylie 2 ; Wood, Ashley 1 ; Sikes, Sidney 2 ; Schullian, Tori 2 ; Warwick, Elizabeth 1 ; Huckleberry, Elisabeth 1
HBP: Jansen, Jenny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hecker, Regi 1
CS: Westphal, Jaina 1
