Feature | Chemistry Fuels Saluki Softball's Pitching Success - Southern Illinois University Athletics

Carondale, Ill. - SIU currently sits atop the MVC standings at 26-8 (11-3 MVC) and its pitching staff has been a major contributor towards racking up wins so far this season. They lead the Valley in ERA (1.77), hits allowed (162), opponent batting average (.198), and are tied for the league lead in shutouts (8).

The Saluki staff has done this under the tutelage of first-year pitching coach Katie Griffith who was drawn to the history of success of southern Illinois softball.

"I wanted to be part of a successful hard-working program that was already successful, but I felt like I could also help level up…I just thought this team could get to Oklahoma City and I want to help them do that," she said. "Once I spoke to Jen a few times, I knew SIU was the place."

Griffith was a head coach for five seasons but really wanted to focus on pitching, which is her passion after being a pitcher during her playing career at the University of Georgia. She says it's her favorite part of softball and therefore makes it easier for her to coach.

She didn't become the pitching coach officially until August and wasn't as familiar with the incoming freshmen pitchers Maddia Groff and Kiana McDowell. But Griffith quickly acclimated herself with the team, everyone got on the same page, and the potential of the pitching staff began to formulate as more conversations and bullpens were had.

"You build relationships and day one is always awkward and then day two is better and week two and week three and you can start to see it develop and know just how high the potential is for a group of people once you're around them, and you really get to know them as people," Griffith said.

After making it to the NCAA Regionals in 2023, the Salukis believed that the depth of their pitching staff would anchor them in 2024 if senior Madi Eberle was healthy. Groff, Eberle, and Hannah Hockerman have posted ERAs of 0.77, 2.96 ERA, and 2.59 respectively so far this season, offering viable options to command the circle for the Dawgs.

"I think the depth has shown in Hannah taking big strides this year and allowing Kiana to come along without rushing her…pitching depth was a focus just in general but to have this quality staff we are definitely eyeing the NCAA's and the ability to possibly make a run into a Regional final," head coach Jen Sewell said. "All teams who have made it deep into a Regional or a Super have had multiple aces and a staff to bridge to those aces."

For the first-year southpaw Groff, she was initially unsure about an unfamiliar face joining the coaching staff but Griffith's resumé quickly spoke for itself. She has appreciated her pitching coach's experienced input and ability to connect with the players.

"She's just been super supportive. I think as a staff we're just really grateful to have her…I came in not knowing coach Katie at all and so obviously, I was apprehensive about that," she shared. "But literally, within the first week, I knew that it was just going to be a really positive relationship and her having played at Georgia and competed at a really high level herself, I feel like that gives her another way to connect to players in a different way that a lot of people can't."

One thing that is integral in Griffith's process is chemistry and camaraderie between the pitcher and catcher. She says that a pitcher and a catcher's relationship is a microcosm of the team's culture. Battery mates being on the same page makes the difference on gameday and the more time spent together between the two, the better. This relationship-building takes place when they throw to each other in bullpens and continue to learn about one another every day.

"It's always been very important to me to have a great culture in the bullpen…we work hard, we're deliberate in what we do. We look out for each other," Griffith said. "…the catcher knows when they have to help them pull through, sometimes you got to grab wins when it's not your best day and some days you have those magical days where everything is working wonderful, and catcher's job gets a little bit easier. So it's just that back and forth and the helpfulness every single day, willingness to help each other and learn and encourage each other."

It's not just one set of pitcher and catcher working to themselves in bullpen sessions. They are collective efforts where everyone is working with each other, wanting to help each other improve, and therefore creating valuable long-lasting memories.

"We're spending time in bullpens together and all that, but just everyone's super supportive, like we're all each other's biggest fans and we want them to do good and we're all just rooting for each other and helping each other out…" catcher Rylinn Groff said. "We have a lot of fun during bullpens and I'm very grateful for all of them, the pitchers and the catchers."

The Groff twins are a phenomenal example of a desired pitcher and catcher relationship, having played the sport together since they were four years old. They are allowed to call their own games, and the way they work through games feels natural.

"We're constantly in communication with each other. Sometimes, even if that's just like a gesture to one another, we always make sure we go in and we're on the same page. And if we have to adjust or anything depending on the lineup or anything, we'll talk about it and we're just very honest with each other," catcher Rylinn Groff said. "So any communication, it's always well received because we're just trying to get a win however we can."

The Dawgs have been great at sitting batters down on three strikes while also not allowing them to reach base freely frequently, ranking in the top half in the MVC in walks and strikeouts. Maddia Groff has been a standout in this area, striking out 130 batters while only surrendering 16 walks so far this season. It is a focus for her because she feels it is the constant thing she has complete control over, so she is keen on attacking the strike zone consistently.

"I feel like that's just one aspect of the game that you can control no matter what, like you can't always control if they hit your rise ball or not or if they are laying off your rise ball and don't swing," she explained. "But you can control your spots and limit free bases."

When it comes to working throughout the week, Griffith is flexible with what each person is working on in terms of individuality. Every player has something different they need to work on, and Griffith devises plans on how they are going to get better each day.

"I try not to have a pre-planned approach to anything because it all changes and I try to make it really based on that pitcher, that catcher, that day. 'What happened over the weekend? What do we need to tweak?' It's all very deliberate," she said. "So I'm not a coach that just says, 'Hey, we're all working on velocity today.' Like it's really curated every single hour that each one of those pitchers goes out and works, we have a specific plan."

Even though Sewell says the team is based on run production, the way the staff has pitched has taken some pressure off of the offense. It creates an effect where the pitching and the lineup can work hand-in-hand to create efficient innings in the circle and explosive innings in the batter's box.

"We can get off the field so quickly on defense and that type of pitching just feeds the offense all kinds of momentum. And then it's fun to have a great offensive inning and feed that momentum back to our pitching staff," she explained.

Griffith shared that she and Sewell are usually standing next to each other throughout the entirety of the game, talking through the game with Sewell's expertise on the hitting side and Griffith's knowledge of pitching. Based on their preparation leading into matchups, they are able to share what they see as coaches and relay it to their players so they can adjust on the fly.

Sewell sees the impact that Griffith has had in her first year at SIU and believes her unit's success so far this season has been predicated on striving toward a collective goal.

"I think it's their willingness to be curious and to buy into each other and their pitching coach. If you look over there, every pitcher is rooting for the other. They would hang out with each other regardless of softball. Each one respects the process of being a Division-I pitcher and puts the work in with Katie," Sewell said.

Maddia Groff says she will be sad when fellow pitchers Eberle and Hockerman graduate but she cherishes the growth she has shared with the pitchers and catchers together due to the time they have put in together.

"We call ourselves the P's and C's. So that's just kind of like a team within a team we have there. Pitching and catching, it's a little special in that regard that you have to put in some time away from the team and there's another craft kind of within the game that you have to really mold to help the team," Groff said. "And so it's really fun to just be able to go through that with other people."

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Feature | Chemistry Fuels Saluki Softball's Pitching Success

Players Mentioned

Madi Eberle

Maddia Groff

Rylinn Groff

Hannah Hockerman

Kiana McDowell

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