Southern Illinois University
13-0
Butler
4-16
Salukis Win Second Straight Game in Extra Innings
03/05/2023 | 7:30:00 | Softball
The Salukis have now won eight straight games dating back to their 9-1 win over Sacramento State at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge, including five one-run wins. Southern's pitching has been solid throughout the streak as they've given up just a single run in four of the eight games while only giving up three or more earned runs once. The Dawgs pitching staff of Madi Eberle, Elliott Stinson, and Hannah Hockerman currently sit with 2.63 ERA, second-lowest in the Missouri Valley.Â
After a stagnant five innings from both sides, Elizabeth Warwick finally broke the 0-0 tie with a 2-RBI double to the left center wall that drove home Bailey Caylor and Emma Austin. Caylor led the inning off with an infield single before Austin recorded her second walk of the day.Â
The Bulldogs were able to come back in the sixth inning however to not only tie the game at 2-2 but breakup the no-hitter between Hannah Hockerman and Elliott Stinson on a bunt single followed by a two-run home run. Stinson got the start and went four innings, with four walks and five strikeouts before being replaced by Hockerman in the fifth. Hockerman would keep the Bulldogs hitless for the remainder of her outing as she went three innings total.Â
Playing with international rules for extra innings, both teams began with a runner on second base to begin each half inning. The Bulldogs were able to take a one-run lead at 3-2 after a sac bunt and single to bring the runner home before it was the Salukis turn at the plate.Â
Rylie Hamilton would start on second base for the Dawgs in the bottom of the eighth as their extra base runner. Catcher Anna Carder led the inning off with a walk and was replaced with Chloe Scroggins on first base as a courtesy runner before a perfect bunt single from Aubree DePron loaded the bases for Jenna Christeson. Doing all that she needed, Christeson hit a hard ground ball towards the middle of the field that was bobbled by the shortstop and gave Hamilton the opportunity to make it home with ease.Â
With the bases still loaded at 3-3, no outs and a 2-0 count, freshman second baseman Erin Lee laid down a bunt just far enough off the plate to give Scroggins enough time to beat the throw back home and walk the game off for the second straight night.Â
"I feel like we learn a new little lesson every game we play. We have to learn while we're winning," expressed head coach Jen Sewell following the win. "We have to understand when we could probably push games a little further out sooner in the game instead of waiting so long. But we've held it in all phases of the game so far, so I have to be happy with the pitching, I have to be happy with the defense, I have to be happy with the offense because we're winning games. And there's no reason to put the foot on the pedal, we just need to clean up a few little details and we're doing that at the right time with conference coming up in about a week."
The Salukis move to 3-0 at the Saluki Invitational as they'll play their fourth and final game of the tournament tomorrow at 2 PM against Butler once again.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Softball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoftball and on Instagram at @SIU_Softball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Eberle, Madi (5-1)
L: GRIMAN, Mackenzie (2-7)
Batting:
HR: WHITE, Ella 1
RBI: WHITE, Ella 2 ; O'RILLEY, Teagan 1
SH: GROSS, Kaylee 1 ; WHITE, Ella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LEHNER, Cate 1 ; GROSS, Kaylee 1 ; WHITE, Ella 1
CS: LEHNER, Cate 1
Batting:
2B: Warwick, Elizabeth 1
RBI: Warwick, Elizabeth 2 ; Christeson, Jenna 1 ; Lee, Erin 1
SH: Christeson, Jenna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Austin, Emma 1 ; Hamilton, Rylie 1 ; Scroggins, Chloe 1 ; Caylor, Bailey 1
SB: DePron, Aubree 1
CS: Austin, Emma 1
