Nationally ranked SIU overpowers Otahks

Southern Illinois' nationally ranked softball team flexed its muscles at Southeast Missouri State University Wednesday and rolled to a doubleheader sweep, winning 5-1 and 9-3 over the host Otahkians.

The Salukis, rated 30th in the most recent national poll, improved to 18-4. The Otahkians fell to 4-14.

SIU's pitching allowed the Otahkians just 10 hits in the two games.

Offensively, SIU banged out 21 hits and received a big performance from Southeast transfer Jenny Doehring.

Doehring, a junior shortstop who played at Southeast for two seasons and was the 2001 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, went 4-for-7 with five runs scored.

Another Southeast transfer, senior Renee Mueller, got the win in the opener when she worked five shutout innings, allowing just two hits.

Amy Murphy had two of the Otahkians' three hits in the opener. Brooke Nett had three of Southeast's seven second-game hits, while Amy Thompson delivered two RBIs.

Jessica Hunter (1-3) took the first-game loss, allowing six hits and three runs in four innings. Melissa Van Velkenburgh gave up five hits and two runs in three innings.

Kelly Birk (3-5) took the second-game loss, allowing nine hits and nine runs in four innings. Rachel Van Fleet was solid over the final three innings, giving up one hit and no runs.