Senior Lauren Haas picked a good time to swing a hot bat for the SIU softball team.

Haas extended her hit streak to seven games as she helped the Salukis pick up a pair of wins over Missouri Valley Conference foe Illinois State Saturday afternoon before rain canceled the final game of the series Sunday.

“I just feel like I’m seeing the ball really well right now and just hitting it where they’re (the defenders) not,” Haas said.

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The Salukis (17-15, 5-3 MVC) earned a pair of 2-1 victories in the double header during a cold, windy Saturday behind an offensive that scored multiple runs for the first time in four games.

Coach Kerri Blaylock said getting hits at the right time behind good pitching and strong defense also helped the Salukis capitalize against the Redbirds (11-14, 1-4).

“What sets the tone is pitching and defense,” Blaylock said. “Over the last five or six years we’ve won a lot of ball games 2-1 because you’ve kept the opposing team down.”

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth in game one, Haas hit a double to score senior outfielder Krystal Stein from second to even the score.

Sophomore right fielder Katie Wilson then hit a hard ground ball to score Haas from third and give the Salukis the eventual go-ahead run, winning the game 2-1.

Freshman pitcher Danielle Glosson recorded her first win since Feb. 16 when she threw a 2-0 win over Fordham in the Bulldog Round-Robin in Starksville, Miss.

Glosson said she knew a win would come sooner or later and kept her head up with encouragement from Blaylock and her dad.

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“It just brings relief to me to know my offense is working and they’re hitting the ball hard,” Glosson said.

Blaylock said even though she hasn’t picked up the win in most games, Glosson has been productive and the win Saturday can give her momentum heading into the heart of the season.

In game two, the Salukis struck early as they scored two runs in the second inning when freshman outfielder Chelsea Held hit a two run double that scored Wilson. Held later scored on an Illinois State error as she slid into second, putting the Salukis up 2-0.

Haas also hit another double in the game, giving her sole possession of eighth place on SIU’s career doubles list with 28.

“She’s (Haas) hot because she competes at every at bat,” Blaylock said.

The Redbirds tried to make a late rally in the sixth inning but fell one run short as freshman Nikki Waters picked up her ninth win of the year.

The Salukis extended their MVC home record to 5-0 and 6-3 overall this season. They will return to Charlotte West as they face Saint Louis Wednesday in a double-header beginning at 4 p.m.

Megan Kramper can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 256 or [email protected].