Southern Illinois University
17-13
Saint Louis University
14-16
Salukis down Billikens, 5-0
04/06/2022 | 7:54:00 | Softball
Madi Eberle and Sarah Harness combined to five-hit the visiting Billikens.
CARBONDALE, Ill — Madi Eberle and Sarah Harness combined to throw a dominant five-hit shutout in the circle to lead the Southern Illinois Salukis to a 5-0 win over the Saint Louis Billikens Wednesday at Charlotte West Stadium.
The Salukis, winners of six of their last seven, used a two-run third and a three-run sixth inning to give Eberle and Harness all the run support they needed.
"Madi was off to a good start and then dove and banged the side of her hip," Interim head coach Jen Sewell said. "As a precaution we got her out of there. Sarah had everything working today. When you see her miss a pitch and still get a swing and miss, she's on. She doesn't have to be real fine about it. Today even if a pitch missed, she was getting either a foul ball or a swing and miss. That's how we knew she had all of her stuff working. Sarah gets better as the game progresses."
Eberle got the start in the circle and went one and one-third inning before exiting. Harness came on in relief and was spectacular. She struck out the first four batters that she faced, which included the first two batters to leave runners stranded at second and third in the top of the second. The two-time All-MVC selection faced just two above the minimum, gave up just two singles and struck out nine without issuing a walk.
"I feel like I'm settling in a little bit more as the season goes on," Harness said. "I dealt with some things in the fall and it took a little while longer to get back. I feel like I'm getting back into a groove now."
When the Billikens were able to make contact, Southern's defense had Harness' back. Ashley Wood stole a hit away from SLU's Cami Newbanks after she climbed the ladder to snag a line drive that looked as though it was going to get over her head. The Salukis posted their fourth error-free game in their last five outings in the victory.
After Harness worked around back-to-back two out singles in the top of the third, SIU's offense went to work in the bottom half of the frame. Aubree DePron led off with a single, then stole second and came around to score on a single up the middle from Ashley Wood. After Rylie Hamilton singled to move Wood to third, Sidney Sikes came through with a single to left field that plated Wood to put SIU ahead 2-0.
Harness cruised from there, as she retired the final 13 batters that she faced. SIU's offense tacked on a three-spot for good measure in the bottom of the sixth. DePron again led off the frame with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hamilton. Reagan McGahey drew a bases loaded walk for her first collegiate RBI while Elizabeth Warwick added a RBI-single.
At the plate, DePron tied her career-high with three hits. Wood went 2-for-3 with a walk and a RBI while Jenny Jansen was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. Southern's 1-through-4 hitters went a combined 8-for-12 (.667) at the dish and the Salukis posted their 10th double-digit hit output of the season.
"We are settling into rotating kids in and out of our lineup," Sewell said. "Sometimes that can disturb thing but for us, that has kept us rolling and with a good spark."
The Salukis will have a little longer between games after their series at Valparaiso was pushed back to Sunday-Monday. SIU and Valpo will now play a doubleheader on Sunday, April 10 beginning at Noon followed by a single game on Monday, April 11 at Noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harness, Sarah (11-7)
L: WENDLING, Chloe (11-7)
Batting:
2B: KANIECKI, Jane 1
Base Running:
CS: STEVENSON, Kristi 1
Batting:
RBI: Wood, Ashley 1 ; Hamilton, Rylie 1 ; Sikes, Sidney 1 ; McGahey, Reagan 1 ; Warwick, Elizabeth 1
SF: Hamilton, Rylie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DePron, Aubree 2 ; Wood, Ashley 2 ; Jansen, Jenny 1
SB: DePron, Aubree 2
CS: Hamilton, Rylie 1
