Last Saturday the SIU softball team dominated Drake winning 12-1. The Salukis then came out in the second and couldn’t buy a run, losing 2-1 to split the doubleheader.

In Tuesday’s doubleheader, the team hoped to rectify that problem and did so, winning the first game 4-1 and taking the second 8-0 at Charlotte West Stadium-Rochman Field.

SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said she was impressed by the fact her team was able to come back and perform even better in the second game and not play flat.

“What I was happy about is we did a good job the first game and then we came back and we dominated the second game,” Blaylock said.

Sophomore outfielder Katie Jordan, who drove in five runs in the second game, said the team was focused on playing with the same fire in both games and feels the team did just that.

“That’s something we really wanted to concentrate on not doing again,” Jordan said. “We came out with the intensity and we got it done the second game.”

Jordan had a two-run double and a three-run home run in the second game to lead the way in SIU’s eight run-rule victory over the 15-17 Skyhawks of UT-Martin.

The home run was her ninth of the year, which leads the Missouri Valley Conference.

Her blast, which bounced before Park Street and cleared the road on the hop, put Jordan into second place the all-time on the SIU single season list. She is now just one dinger behind the mark of 10 set in 1999 by Marta Viefhaus.

Looking back on the hit, Jordan said she was glad she made solid contact with the ball, but all that matters is that the team was able to get its job done.

“It was nice, but at the same time it’s an individual thing,” Jordan said. “It was nice to hit and everything, but in a game where we scored eight runs, it really didn’t matter that much.”

While Jordan is expected to be a major run producer for the Salukis, the offensive heroes from the first game came as a bit of a surprise.

Junior twins Adie and Haley Viefhaus drove in all four of SIU’s runs in the game with Haley driving in three on a pair of doubles. Adie added another RBI in the second game.

Entering the day, Haley had just four RBI and Adie had only three.

Haley said the sisters’ performance showed one of the strengths of the Salukis in that anyone can step up and perform and it’s not only the middle of the lineup hitters that can lead the way.

This is what has helped the Salukis to their 24-6 record and No. 26 ranking in this week’s USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll.

“I think it’s really important because as a team we can’t just rely on the long ball,” Haley said. “We can’t always rely on them hitting home runs all the time. We need to do it all the way around.”

Despite all the big hits, pitching was also a key part of Tuesday’s games.

SIU senior Renee Mueller improved her record to 8-2 with a strong seven-inning performance where the only UT-Martin run was unearned. This was encouraging for the Salukis after Mueller lasted just two full innings in her start and was relieved before registering an out in the third.

Blaylock threw Mueller in the first game instead of usual starter Amy Harre in the hopes of building her senior’s confidence back up.

“She had kind of been feeling down about herself and kind of questioning,” Mueller said. “I wanted her to go out and have a really good outing and show her that she can get out and do it and stop a good hitting team.”

The team needed her to play strong as UT-Martin pitcher and Herrin native Kendra Kosco was solid striking out 10 in six innings and allowing just two earned runs.

Harre shut out the Skyhawks for five innings before winning her second consecutive game by the eight-run rule.

“What more can you ask for as a pitcher than to have eight runs and only have to throw five innings,” Harre said. “That’s just absolutely great.”

Reporter Jens Deju can be reached at [email protected]