CARBONDALE (SIU Athletics) -- The Southern Illinois University softball team won both of its games on聽 day two of the Coach B Classic Saturday. The Salukis won game one against Northern Kentucky, 5-0 behind a gem from freshman pitcher聽聽and followed with a 4-3 victory over Creighton in the nightcap.
"I felt like we were just a little flat against Northern Kentucky but I thought Sarah threw well and we had a couple of timely hits," head coach聽聽said. "The Creighton game is the first time all year that I felt like we played Saluki softball. We pitched well, we got big hits from Kyleigh and Jenny and it was a competitive game against a good team. That was a great win."
The Saluki pitchers were the story of the day Saturday. Harness went the distance in the win over the Norse, as she notched the first complete game shutout of her collegiate career. The reigning MVC Newcomer of the Week allowed five hits- all singles - and struck out eight while walking just one.
聽improved to 2-1 on the season after she threw four and two-third innings and allowed three earned runs in the win over Creighton.聽聽came on in relief in the fifth and got SIU out of a jam with a huge strikeout to end the sixth that stranded a Creighton runner on third. Harness got the save after she retired both batters she faced in the seventh.
"Sarah is confident right now and is throwing well," Blaylock said. "I thought Carlee Jo gave us a quality start and then we went to Claire and Sarah to close it out. We haven't always been great in relief in the past couple of years. I'm really proud of our kids and the way they are coming into the game."
Against the Norse, the Salukis jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings and hung a crooked number with a two-spot in the sixth. It was more than enough for Harness, as Northern Kentucky only once managed to get more than one runner on in an inning.
聽was 2-for-2 with a double, three RBI and two walks in the win over the Norse while聽was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Southern finished with seven hits and a season-high 10 walks in the win.
In Southern's victory over Creighton, the Salukis struck first thanks to a solo home run from Decker in the bottom of the second. The Blue Jays answered with a run in both the third and fourth innings before a three-run home run from聽聽staked SIU to 4-2 lead. The Blue Jays sliced Southern's lead in half in the fifth but the Saluki pitching staff proved up to the task of fending off the Jays.聽
Jansen was 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk while Decker was also 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk.聽聽went 1-for-2 with a double and both聽听补苍诲听聽added base hits.
Eight different Salukis tallied a hit on the day and 11 different players reached base. Southern has now won three-straight and nine of its last 10 games.
"The win over Creighton was the first game this season that I really felt like we played well," Blaylock said. "Imagine what we can do if we get on a roll."
The Salukis will try to stay on the winning track when they close out the Coach B Classic with games against Purdue Fort Wayne (2:30 p.m.) and Murray State (4:45 p.m.) on Sunday, March 1.
