March 19, 2007

By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com

ST. LOUIS - Following an outstanding week in the circle that included a no-hitter, Southern Illinois University pitcher Cassidy Scoggins was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Scoggins, a senior from Owasso, Okla., posted a 2-1 record over the week with a 0.00 ERA in her 18.0 innings of action with a no-hitter.

Her only loss of the week came in SIU's 5-4, nine-inning loss to UAB on Tuesday. Working around a tie game against Alabama-Birmingham, the only run that Scoggins gave up all week was the unearned, ninth-inning Blazer run that won the game via the International Tiebreaker Rule.

She gave up three hits and three walks while striking out seven in the loss.

Over the weekend, Scoggins gave up only four hits in her two starts, throwing a no-hitter against the Braves on Sunday - the fifth of her career.

She had 20 strikeouts in the two games while giving up only two walks. In her 18 innings of work, Scoggins tallied 27 strikeouts, averaging 1.5 strikeouts per inning.

She is the second Saluki pitcher to earn Valley Pitcher of the Week honors this season. Fellow senior Ashley Hamby took the award on Feb. 26.

The No. 20/23 SIU softball team returns to action with three mid-week games this week.

The Salukis (21-6, 3-0 MVC) are set to play conference rival Evansville on Tues., March 20 in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Cooper Stadium in Evansville, Ind.

SIU then returns home for a single game against the University of Missouri at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Charlotte West Stadium.

GameTracker is available for all three games, as well as Audio Webcasts through SIUSalukis.com. Saluki Vision is available for Wednesday's game against Mizzou.