March 25, 2007

Box Score

By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Junior shortstop Becky Wegmann enjoyed her 21st birthday Sunday as she hit a home run in the top of the fifth inning to help the No. 19/22 Southern Illinois University softball team (27-6, 8-0 MVC) to a 2-0 win at Indiana State (15-13, 1-5 MVC), securing the sweep in the Missouri Valley Conference series.

The home run was the fifth for the Salukis in the series as SIU hit two in each game of Saturday's doubleheader, including a grand slam by junior outfielder Tiffanie Dismore. SIU won the first game of the series 7-0 before coming from behind to win the second game, 6-2.

The second win on Saturday was also the 300th career victory for Southern Illinois head coach Kerri Blaylock. She is now 301-122 in her eight-year career at SIU.

Blaylock was more focused on the sweep, though, as her team currently sits atop the MVC standings with an 8-0 record. The only other undefeated team in the conference, Creighton, sports a 6-0 record in Valley play.

"It's huge anytime you can sweep a Valley series because it is so hard to come by. I'm really proud of the kids, the way they have come out with a lot of effort and a lot of intensity to get a jump on the Valley season," said Blaylock.

The series win also comes as part of a 6-0 week for the Salukis. Southern swept Evansville in a MVC doubleheader on Tuesday and then came home for a 1-0 win over Missouri with senior pitcher Cassidy Scoggins throwing her second no-hitter of the season.

The Saluki pitching definitely played a huge role in the weekend sweep over the Sycamores with SIU picking up two more shut-out wins, giving the team 11 on the season.

Blaylock feels that the success in the circle is contagious and also boosts the defense and hitters.

Scoggins pitched the win for SIU on Sunday, recording her fifth solo shut out of the season while improving her record to 13-3.

The senior from Owasso, Okla. was perfect through the first four innings of Sunday's game, sitting the Sycamore batters down in order.

Stephanie Spychaj killed the perfecto in the bottom of the fifth inning, though, with a lead-off single to left field. Only two other Indiana State players would get a hit in the game.

Scoggins struck out seven batters in the complete-game win, giving up only three hits and no walks.

The Saluki offense was also getting it done with eight hits on the day. Junior Tiffanie Dismore led the way, going 3-for-4 at the plate.

Junior Lauren Haas put Southern's first run on the board in the top of the second inning with her RBI double down the left-field line.

Senior Amanda Clifton led off the inning with a walk, one of the six that she drew over the weekend. Katie Schmidt came in to pinch-run for Wamsley and was sacrificed over to second by Jayme Wamsley.

With Schmidt on second, Haas worked her at-bat to a full count and took a rip, sending the ball bouncing over the third-base bag and down the left-field line to score Schmidt and give SIU the early 1-0 lead.

The Salukis added the 2-0 cushion in the top of the fifth with Wegmann's birthday home run, her third of the season and sixth of her career.

Darcy Wood takes the loss for Indiana State, falling to 8-10 on the season. She pitched 5.1 innings, giving up seven hits, four walks and two runs while striking out three.

Meagan McCurdy relieved Wood in the sixth inning after she fell in to a bases loaded situation, giving up two walks and a base hit to start the inning.

McCurdy allowed no hits, runs or walks as she struck out one Saluki batter in the relief appearance.

Southern Illinois will not take some much-needed time off before traveling to Omaha, Neb. for a three-game MVC series against Creighton on March 31 and April 1. The meeting between the Saluki and Bluejays will be the showdown between the only remaining undefeated teams left in the Valley.

"I think it is good for a couple of our kids to have the week off because they need the rest and I think it comes at a good time of year, being at the midway point. It really couldn't have fallen any better," said Blaylock.

The Salukis and Bluejays will kick off the series with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 at the Creighton Sports Complex.