Recap | Softball Blanks Illinois State, 1-0, in Conference Opener on Friday

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Behind a strong performance in the circle and a clean effort defensively, the Southern Illinois University softball team (9-14, 1-0) shut-out Illinois State, 1-0, in the Missouri Valley Conference opener.

"I felt like the weather summed up that game," head coach Jen Sewell said. "It was only going to get played one way and that was who was going to get a two-out hit in front of an outfielder with that wind blowing straight in at 40 plus."

Inside the Box Score

The Salukis out-hit the Redbirds, 8-3, in the win. Southern also finished the game with zero errors as opposed to Illinois State's one.
McKenzie Newcomb (6-5), the reigning MVC Newcomer of the Week, picked up her sixth win of the season after posting a line of 4.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed, zero runs, no walks, and six strikeouts. Freshman Emma Gipson was also sharp, going 3.0 innings with two hits allowed, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout.
After being named the MVC Player of the Week, senior Emma Austin had another positive performance for the Salukis, going 2-3 in the win. Erin Lee went 1-3 and scored the game-winning run, while Emily Williams drove her in.

"I thought we just hung in there and adapted to how we needed to play," Sewell said. "We probably knew we couldn't swing for the fences and the lefties were in the best matchup to try to get on and get to second base, so I thought they did their part."

How it Happened
It was a pitching duel throughout the game, and especially in the early innings. Gipson allowed just one batter to reach in her first three innings of work, which came in the second after a leadoff single. Catcher Anna Carder threw out the runner at second on a caught stealing for the inning's first out.

After another leadoff single by the Redbirds in the top of the fourth, Newcomb relieved Gipson and proceeded to retire the first three batters she faced to send the game to the bottom of the inning, tied at 0-0.

With two outs, Williams came through, driving a single through the right side to score Lee for the game's first and only run.

Newcomb struck out two Redbirds in the fifth, three in the sixth, and then retired each of the three batters she faced in the seventh to secure the 1-0 victory for Southern Illinois.

Up Next
SIU has now won eight of its last 10 games since returning home, and will look to continue the strong play on Saturday at 12 p.m. against Illinois State.

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