Courtesy of SIUE Athletics
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Haley Chambers fanned 20 batters Sunday and became the first player in school history to throw two career perfect games as SIUE softball swept past Morehead State.
SIUE won the game 1-0 and extended its winning streak to six games with a 10-3 victory in the nightcap. The Cougars improved to 23-6 overall and 6-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Morehead State is now 8-12 overall and 0-2 in the OVC.
It was the fourth no-hitter overall for the junior from Coatesville, Indiana, all of which have been against OVC schools. Chambers threw a perfect game against Jacksonville State as a freshman and no-hitters against Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri last season.
The perfect game was the sixth in school history and the 32nd overall no-hitter.
“Chambers was beyond lights out,” said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery.
Chambers, 13-3, need 87 pitches for the win. She recorded 17 consecutive strikeouts to start the game. The only non-strikeout was a fly ball to Brittany Toney in right field from Morehead State’s No. 9 hitter. It was the most strikeouts by Chambers in her collegiate career. She noted her career best was 27 in an extra-inning game before her collegiate days.
“I was just focused on hitting my spots today,” said Chambers.
“After she struck out the first nine, I knew that unless she made a mistake, they weren’t going to touch her,” said Montgomery. “Coach (Jessica) Jones called a very good game. Haley didn’t allow an opportunity to get a flair or anything like that because that’s what happens in those games. You call one bad pitch, somebody gets a flair, and there goes the perfect game and the no-hitter all in one shot.”
It was the first perfect game caught by SIUE catcher Tess Eby.
“She (Chambers) was composed and ready to get three outs so we could go back in the dugout and hit,” Eby said.
The Cougars, however, didn’t give Chambers much of a cushion, scoring the game’s only run in the first inning. Rebecca Gray singled to center field and stole second. She moved to third on a single by Allison Smiley and scored on an infield out by Rachel Keller.
“I have all the confidence in my team that if they were to tie it up we would fight back,” Chambers said.
Morehead State pitcher Mackenzie Grossman allowed five hits to the Cougars and took the loss. She is now 4-4.
“We were not adjusting to the pitcher exceptionally well. She threw a nice game,” said Montgomery.
Knowing how tight the game was even with Chambers throwing a no-hitter, the Cougars remained focused.
“People know they have to step up and make a play,” said Montgomery.
After a thrilling game one, the Cougars had to step up for a second contest. Baylee Douglass threw six innings and gave up one unearned run for her ninth win of the season. Morehead State managed just two hits total for the day.
“Baylee again threw a nice game as well,” said Montgomery. Douglas struck out six Morehead State batters.
SIUE’s offense had a couple of chances early in game two but used a pair of five-run innings in the fourth and fifth to overpower the Eagles.
“We didn’t hit exceptionally well early and then Tess Eby broke it open with a home run. It was dead center field. Jordan (LaFave) followed that up with a home run, and the flood gates just kind of opened,” said Montgomery.
Eby’s home run, actually, was a grand slam and the second home run in as many days for the freshman catcher.
“I was just trying to connect and get a big hit,” said Eby. “Actually I didn’t see the ball go over the fence. I was turning around first and then I looked over to the fence to see if I could continue on to second, and I didn’t see the ball.”
LaFave followed with a solo home run, her third round-tripper of the season. She is now one RBI behind Smiley for the team lead in RBIs. Smiley has 22 to LaFave’s 21.
The Cougars scored five more runs in the fifth inning. Smiley, Toney, Whitney Lanphier, and LaFave each had RBIs in the inning.
