Salukis Wrap Up Impressive Fall Ball Season
10/17/2023 | 1:51:00 | Softball
The reigning Missouri Valley Conference champions bring back 17 players from last year's roster including six all-conference recipients; Jackie Lis (first team), Elizabeth Warwick (first team), Rylie Hamilton (second team), Anna Carder (second team), Bailey Caylor (second team), and Emma Austin (second team). Along with the six all-MVC returners, the Dawgs also welcome back to the circle 2023 MVC Tournament MVP Madi Eberle for her senior season.Â
"We knew the offense was going to be there and it was but the most impressive part is our pitching staff," emphasized Head Coach Jen Sewell. "Maddia Groff was just dominant, there are no other words for her fall performance – just dominance. She doesn't give up a walk, a HBP, or an extra base hit while leading us in innings pitched."
Freshman pitcher Maddia Groff made her debut for the Salukis this fall after a very impressive high school career alongside her twin sister and Saluki catcher Rylinn Groff at Marian High School in Omaha. Madda finished the fall season with 23 innings pitched, allowing just three hits while striking out 50 batters on her way to a 0.00 ERA.
"I also can't say enough about Hannah Hockerman and Kiana McDowell. That's where Katie Griffith's work is already showing up," said Sewell. "Those two dug in with her this fall and went to work immediately on some very specific goals. It showed up in their pitching to contact and limiting walks. Hannah Hockerman hangs a 0.00 in the ERA category and Kiana steps right into her freshman year and picks up 17 innings of just outs and singles. She never hurt us one time."
SIU allowed just three walks through 56 innings during the fall schedule.
Hannah Hockerman returns for her second season with the Salukis after throwing 79.2 innings last spring. Hockerman made the move to Carbondale after a very successful two-year stint at Rock Valley CC where she was named the 2022 NFCA NJCAA DIII Pitcher of the Year.Â
Another first-year Saluki making her collegiate debut was two-way player Kiana McDowell. McDowell made four appearances in the circle for the Dawgs while giving up just four earned runs with one extra base hit and zero walks allowed through 17 innings.Â
"To see Madi get back out there was such a boost for our program going into the offseason. Proud of her comeback and her leadership to be back at 100%. She's our bullpen leader and I could tell it was a feel good moment for our team."
While the first 55 innings were headed by the trio of M. Groff, Hockerman, and McDowell - Madi Eberle returned for the final inning of the fall schedule prior to taking some time to get back to 100% after she led the Salukis with 187 innings pitched during her junior campaign. Eberle gave up a bloop single in her second at-bat but finished the inning with a strikeout to close out the eight-game fall season on a high note.
"I actually didn't look at our offense until after all eight games and I left the fall thinking we could be better, but after now seeing what we did on paper I need to just shut up," said Sewell at the conclusion of the fall schedule. "Such a huge fall from our veterans, but some really impressive performances by some players we've challenged to step into the lineup more. Lis, Hamilton, Warwick, Carder, Baker and Austin all did their jobs but to see Sidney Jones lead us in hitting along with Alexis Rudd, Katherine Johnson, Jenna Christeson, and Rylinn Groff also have some great performances really speaks to the depth of this offense."
The Salukis hit for a .403 average in the fall with 35 extra base hits for a .738 slugging percentage. Furthermore, all 17 Salukis that took an at-bat during the fall season recorded at least one hit including 13 of those 17 with an extra base hit as well.Â
"MJ (Mary Jo Firnbach) works so meticulously with our infielders and we've introduced some newbies to a couple spots and we didn't let up one bit on defense, fielding .984 is exactly where we expect to be. And that's with two pitch-to-contact style on top of pitchers getting a lot of innings this fall," explained Sewell. "You also see MJ's presence in our run game – we were perfect in stolen bases again. That's just going to add even more excitement to our offense."
Southern executed on all nine stolen base attempts as eight different Salukis stole a base led by freshman infielder Amanda Knutson who had two. SIU was sixth in the MVC a season ago with 52 bases stolen on 59 attempts.Â
"Of all our defensive players, I think we challenged our catchers the most behind the dish," said Sewell. "Carder is always going to do her job but to see Rylinn [Groff] step up with a huge strikeout/throw-out in her young career and have [Haley] Wilkerson throw out a couple was big time for us. There is no reason with our pitching and our catching that anyone should get to second base," emphasized Sewell.
With the conclusion of the fall season, the Salukis now take a few months off of competition before returning for the spring season in February.Â
"We met with the team last week following our last game and it's as excited as we've heard a team to start an offseason. Not every team wants the offseason the way this team does – they want to be even better. Off-seasons can be dark and quiet and a real grind but we talked about using our discipline to get through it as a group and not just relying on our motivation which can leave us sometimes at 5:30 am on a chilly, dark morning training session. This team has spoken about their chemistry and their love for each other and I think fans will see that on the field this spring."
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