Carbondale, Ill. – Southern Illinois advanced to the MVC Semfinal round with a 2-1 (9) win over Murray State as Elizabeth Warwick walked it off with her 20th double of the season in the bottom of the ninth.
Warwick drove in both runs on the day for Southern Illinois as she went 3-for-4 at the plate. The All-MVC First Teamer broke her own single season program record with her third hit of the game, a double into right center to score Jackie Lis from first. Setting the record a season ago at 19, Warwick now becomes just the sixth player in MVC history to total 20 doubles in a season to go along with her new single-season program record at SIU.
Jackie Lis also had a big day at the plate for the Salukis in the leadoff spot as she went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Lis flew out to straightaway center in her first at-bat of the game on a ball that looked like it was going to clear the fence initially but was knocked down by a strong breeze blowing from left to right.
Southern was able to make a lot of hard contact, especially early but had a plethora of balls caught up in the wind and into the Racers’ gloves. With 32 at bats on the day, the Salukis didn’t strike out a single time.
Freshman Maddia Groff proved why she was named the MVC Pitcher of the Year, making her postseason debut with 9.0 IP, 14 K, 5 H, 1 ER as she improved to 29-3 on the season. Groff now owns the single-season program record for most wins (29), passing Jamie Schuttek (1997) and Erin Stremsterfer (2001) both whom had 28.
Groff’s 14 strikeouts are the seventh-most in a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game as she now totals 234 on the season, tied for sixth-most in a season at SIU.
Bailey Caylor and Emma Austin both singled as the Salukis totaled seven hits on the day. Austin scored the tying run in the fifth as she just beat the tag at home as she crashed into the Murray State backstop. Luckily, Austin was able to shake it off and return to center field in the sixth and finish the game.
SIU will play No. 4 Illinois State in the Semifinal game at 1 PM Friday afternoon.
