Southern Illinois University
San Jose St
Meier Knocks In Two As Salukis Down San Jose State
03/14/2001 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 10, 2001
Sunnyvale, Calif. -
Senior third baseman Julie Meier went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in to lead Southern Illinois University to a 2-1 win over tourney host San Jose State in the first round of the double elimination playoffs Saturday in the 15th Annual National Invitational Softball Tournament at Twin Creeks Sports Complex.
SIU sparked an early rally in the top of the first inning when Netty Hallahan reached base with a lead off walk. Following a Haley Viefhaus strikeout, Erin Stremsterfer was then hit by a pitch to give the Salukis runners on first and second. Meier then stepped in and ripped a single which drove in Hallahan from second giving the Dawgs a 1-0 lead.
Three hits and a Saluki error by Meier in the bottom of the fourth allowed Becca Baldridge to score from first, and as a result, put the Spartans right back in the game knotting the score at 1-1. San Jose, who could have then taken the lead on Roxanne Staniorski's single, was denied as a bullet by Marta Viefhaus pegged Katie Gomes at the plate. A third out whif by Dianna Lilly then ended the Spartan run.
After the Salukis went three up, three down in the top of the fifth, the Spartans threatened again in the bottom half of the frame when a single by Gina Saldana and an error by SIU right fielder Kendra Moore put runners in scoring position with no one out. Stremsterfer then dug in and remarkably kept her poise to strike out the next three batters putting an end to the San Jose rally.
Deadlocked at 1-1 with two out in the top of the sixth, Stremsterfer doubled to right center and quickly crossed home as Meier followed with a single in the same spot to give the Salukis the 2-1 win.
Stremsterfer picked up the win on the mound to improve to 6-2 on the year. In seven innings pitched, Stremsterfer fanned 10 batters while being touched for one earned run. In addition, Stremsterfer also had one hit while Meier had the other two to make up the Dawgs' quiet three pokes.
SIU, now 8-6 on the season, will return to action in the double elimination consolation bracket of the National Invitational Softball Tournament Saturday night when the Salukis face Sacramento State at 6 p.m.
