Hopkins drives in three; Harre pitches five perfect innings to sweep doubleheader

The SIU softball team’s offense showed up late, but it showed up nonetheless.

The Salukis exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning of game two, helping them sweep Tuesday’s doubleheader against Southeast Missouri State at IAW Fields.

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I think we finally got our timing down, said head coach Kerri Blaylock, referring to SIU’s offense, which had been struggling until Tuesday afternoon.

SIU (8-4) won the first game 1-0 on a game-winning bases loaded single by Elissa Hopkins off Southeast’s Kelly Birk.

It was a meatball down the middle, Hopkins said. I was just trying to put it in play, but when she throws me a pitch that bad, I gotta take it.

Katie Kloess pitched four scoreless innings and Amy Harre struck out six in three innings to cap the shutout.

The Salukis crushed the Otahkians 7-1 in game two, with Southeast’s only run coming on an Alicia Loucks home run in the third.

It was a mistake, said Saluki pitcher Renee Mueller of the home-run pitch. It was an accident. It wasn’t where it was supposed to be.

But Mueller made no other mistakes, pitching four otherwise scoreless innings before Harre came in and shut the door with two of her own.

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Harre gave up no hits in either game Tuesday and seemed to be on cruise control while closing out both games, striking out seven batters in five innings.

I just go out and throw, Harre said. Some games I might strike out nine, but the next game there will be 21 outs my fielders have to make.

Hopkins was the offensive hero in game two as well, nailing a line drive double to right center, driving in two and starting the Salukis’ fifth inning scoring barrage.

The Salukis needed only two hits to score their five fifth inning runs. They were the beneficiary of three walks and two Otahkian errors, helping the offensive outburst.

The game was called after six innings due to darkness.

I think the first game, we came and really looked like we hadn’t played in a week and half and you could tell we were a little jumpy, Blaylock said. The thing that has kept us in ballgames for years is pitching and defense, and [Tuesday] the big bats came out late.

Reporter Michael Brenner can be reached at [email protected]