Softball Set to Host 2001 Southern Classic
03/14/2001 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 2, 2001
SIU Sets to Host 2001 Southern Classic . . . Following its four-day visit to Las Cruces, N.M., the Southern Illinois University Carbondale softball team returns home to host the 2001 Southern Classic Saturday-Sunday, Mar. 3-4. SIU will open play on Saturday, Mar. 3 against Bradley at 12:30 p.m., and Butler at 2:30 p.m. The Salukis will then conclude the two-day event on Sunday, Mar. 4 against Northern Illinois at 12:30 p.m., followed by Indiana at 2:30 p.m. All games will be played at IAW Fields.
Lucky Seven . . . This year marks the seventh time Southern Illinois University will play host to the Southern Classic Tournament which originated in 1992. SIU, who won its first ever Southern Classic Championship last season, will look to defend its title in this year's event as the Salukis enter the five-team field currently on a two-game winning streak.
Hangin' Tough . . . In its first seven games this season, Southern Illinois has hung tight with some of the nation's premier competition. According to the recent USA Today/NFCA poll as of Feb. 25, two teams that SIU most recently faced in Oregon (No. 22) and Baylor (No. 23) were voted among this week's top-25. Sporting a record of 1-2 against nationally-ranked teams this season including preseason ranked No. 23 Mississippi State, the Salukis will face two more top-25 opponents in California (No. 4) and Iowa (No. 13) next week at the National Invitational Softball Tournament in San Jose, Calif.
Troy Cox Invitational Recap . . . After losing its first three games to Oregon (4-1), Baylor (6-3), and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (4-2), SIU rallied behind a no-hitter by Erin Stremsterfer and a game-winning single by Haley Viefhaus to beat tournament host New Mexico State (1-0) in eight innings at the Troy Cox Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M., (Feb. 23-25). Following their win over the Aggies, the Dawgs then went on to post a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Iowa State to round out the tourney with a 2-3 mark.
The Error up There . . . In SIU's latest venture against Iowa State, the Salukis took advantage of three errors in the bottom of the seventh inning to post a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Cyclones. The late-game rally enabled the Salukis to post their first come-from-behind victory since defeating Bradley (7-6) in the MVC Tournament on May 6, 2000.
Stremsterfer Named MVC Pitcher of the Week . . . For the fourth time in her career, senior Erin Stremsterfer was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher-of-the-Week (Feb. 26). Stremsterfer pitched a no-hitter through eight innings of SIU's extra-inning 1-0 win over New Mexico State (2/24). For the weekend, she threw 23.1 innings, while striking out 31 batters. In addition, the no-hitter marked the third of her career.
Stremsterfer, H. Viefhaus Garner All-Tournament Honors . . . Senior Erin Stremsterfer and freshman Haley Viefhaus were named to the Troy Cox Invitational's all-Tournament team, announced Sunday, Feb. 25. Both garnered the honor during the Salukis' win over New Mexico State when Stremsterfer's no-hit shutout was backed by Viefhaus' game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth to give the Dawgs a 1-0 win over the Aggies. The pair were among 11 members selected to the all-Tournament squad.
Guenther Goes Yard . . . Trailing 6-0 against Baylor (2/23), junior Jenny Guenther hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to bring SIU to within three (6-3), as the Salukis would go on to lose by that margin. Guenther's home run, which was the third of her career at SIU, also marked the first hit by any Saluki this season.
Tripled Up . . . In its game against New Mexico State (2/24), Southern Illinois was thrown out on a triple play for the first time in the history of SIU softball. With Haley Viefhaus and Jenny Guenther on base in the bottom of the fifth inning, Adie Viefhaus lined into a 5-5U-4 triple play which put a quick halt to the Dawgs' threat.
I Dare You . . . Between SIU catchers Karrie Fortman and Adie Viefhaus, the two have combined to either pickoff or gun down a runner trying to steal on five occasions this season. The Salukis, who have thrown out at least one of the opposing team's baserunners in the first four games of the season, have only allowed a total of four stolen bases in nine attempts on the year.
Head Coach Kerri Blaylock . . . Kerri Blaylock (Evansville, Oe88) enters her second year as head coach and 11th overall with the Saluki softball program. In her debut at the helm last season, Blaylock guided SIU to its first 40-win season since 1997 as the Dawgs finished 41-22 overall and 9-9 in the MVC. Directing a pitching staff which led the Missouri Valley Conference in ERA (0.83) for the fourth straight year while ranking third nationally, Blaylock's squad also registered a fourth place finish at the Valley Tournament. Prior to being named head coach, Blaylock served as the Salukis' pitching coach for five seasons and has served as an assistant coach at SIU for nine years.
About the Salukis . . . SIU enters the five-team field in the Southern Classic this weekend currently on a two-game winning streak with an overall record of 3-4 on the season. Seniors Amanda Rexroat and Erin Stremsterfer lead the Dawgs offensively this season batting .333 or better. Rexroat, who bats .381, is the team's leading threat with eight hits in 21 plate appearnces this season while Stremsterfer follows batting .333 with a triple and three runs scored. In addition, Stremsterfer also leads the Salukis on the mound as she is 1-1 in six appearances throwing 29.2 innings while striking out 38 batters.
About the Braves . . . Missouri Valley Conference foe Bradley University enters the Southern Classic standing at 0-3 on the season. Opening their 2001 campaign last weekend in the Loyola Marymount Invitational in Los Angeles, Calif., the Braves were shutout three times compliments of San Diego, 6-0, and California State Northridge, 3-0, 2-0. Leading Bradley after its first three games are infielders Jackie Starkey and Rachel Gensch who each boast a batting average of .286. In 14 plate appearances, the two have combined for four hits and four total bases.
About the Bulldogs . . . The Bulldogs of Butler University open their 2001 schedule this weekend in the Southern Classic. Butler, who finished last season with a record of 13-36, is sparked by the return of five starters and three pitchers. Sophomore infielder Jeri Keller spearheads the Butler charge as she returns after leading the Bulldogs with a .287 average at the plate. Keller scattered 41 hits and knocked in 13 runs while scoring 15 others during her rookie year.
About the Hoosiers . . . Indiana University brings a 3-7 record into this weekend's tournament. Sporting one of the younger teams in the Big Ten this season, the Hoosiers return just two seniors in outfielder Melissa Narewski and pitcher Jenny Smith. Ranking atop Indiana offensively, however, is freshman Dawn Ramynke who is 7-for-14 (.500) this season. Ranynke, who lists second in fielding percentage (.970) as well, also smacked one double to go along with four runs scored. Following Ramynke is sophomore infielder/pitcher Lisa Mattke who is batting .343 in 10 starts.
About the Huskies . . . Northern Illinois University, who is 1-8 on the season, returns to the Southern Classic for the second consecutive year. Although beginning the 2001 campaign with eight straight losses, the Huskies are coming off a 2-1 win over Western Illinois at the Missouri Invitational two weeks ago. Samantha Knoll leads Northern Illinois at the plate this season batting .310 (9-of-29). Also posting a slugging percentage of .517, Knoll has four runs scored, three doubles, one home run, and six RBIs this season.
Up Next . . . Southern Illinois will head to San Jose, Calif., to compete in the National Invitational Tournament Friday-Sunday, Mar. 9-11. On Friday, Mar. 9, the Salukis will take on No. 4 California at 10 a.m., and No. 13 Iowa at 4 p.m., before concluding the day with UC-Santa Barbara at 6 p.m.