SIU keeps opponents scoreless in five games; combining for 61 hits

The Salukis dominated every aspect of their fall invitational at Charlotte West Stadium Saturday and Sunday, going 5-0 without allowing a run against Tennessee-Martin, SIU-Edwardsville and local junior colleges John A. Logan and Rend Lake.

Combining for 61 hits in the five games, the Salukis scored at least three first-inning runs in four of their five games. Only one of SIU’s wins came by fewer than eight runs.

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“These girls come out here ready to play every game no matter who the opponent is,” junior pitcher Amy Harre said. “In warm-ups they’re out here diving. They’re ready to play. They’re serious about it and when they come out, jump on runs, they’re just helping the pitcher.”

SIU’s pitchers didn’t need much help, though. Harre allowed two hits in 12 innings of work including a complete-game 8-0 win against Tennessee-Martin, the only other Division I team in the tournament. In that game, Harre, who showed her defensive mettle along with her teammates, narrowly missed a no-hitter when she allowed a hit in the seventh and final inning.

“She hadn’t thrown the ball since May, and she was unbelievable,” head coach Kerri Blaylock said. “She threw the ball very well, but all three pitchers did. I thought we had dominating pitching all day [Saturday].”

SIU’s three other pitchers, all newcomers, were also impressive on and off the mound during the weekend.

“They all threw the ball really, really well and hit the ball well too,” Blaylock said of her freshmen hurlers. “They worked both sides of the ball so I was very, very pleased.”

Blaylock has set high standards for all of her freshmen.

“I expect a lot out of all of them,” Blaylock said. “They’re highly recruited kids, and they came in and they’re doing a great job. My expectation does not change between freshmen and seniors. I expect a lot out of all of them.”

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All four freshmen and senior transfer Alison Thompson saw significant playing time in SIU’s five routs, and Blaylock said the team is versatile enough that anyone could play in the spring.

For the first time, Blaylock was able to face John A. Logan coach Bruce Jilek, who was her coach when she attended Herrin High School. And after SIU took a 3-0 lead out of the first inning, the two had plenty of time to joke around while Jilek, dressed in baggy shorts and a white bucket hat, stood in the third base coach’s box just a few feet away from Blaylock’s post in the Saluki dugout.

“He means so much to me,” Blaylock said. “He’s the reason, really, that I’m a coach. If it wasn’t for him, I’d never be into it. He’s such a great teacher, and so it’s really different being on the sidelines against him.

“He’s hysterical. He’ll just joke with me about different kinds of stuff. He’s got a really good sense of humor. We just chat about a lot of things.”

The Salukis will be back in action this weekend when they compete in the St. Louis Tournament Sept. 20-21 in Kirkwood, Mo.

Reporter Ethan Erickson can be reached at [email protected]