Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Illinois St
Illinois State Edges SIU, Wins Series 2-1
05/01/2001 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 7, 2001
Normal, Ill. - Senior pitcher Nicole Kurth struck out 14 batters to lead Illinois State University to a 3-2 win over Southern Illinois as the Redbirds completed a 2-1 series win Sunday in Missouri Valley Conference action at Redbird Softball Complex.
Kurth opened the game with three consecutive strikeouts until Julie Meier hit a hard grounder which deflected off Kurth's glove only to be retrieved by shortstop Abbie Scott for the first out in the top of the second. Stremsterfer then stepped in and took a 3-2 pitch deep over the leftfield wall to give the Salukis a 1-0 lead. The solo shot marked Stremsterfer's fourth of the season.
The SIU lead, however, would only stand until the bottom of the third inning as back-to-back singles by Corey Harris and Scott gave the Redbirds two quick baserunners. A fielder's choice by Shae Wesley then froze SIU first baseman Netty Hallahan, who couldn't decide on whether to go to first or third, to load the bases. Centerfielder Bridget Fournie then ripped a line drive which appeared to be in the hole between first and second, but it hit Wesley and bounced to shortstop Haley Viefhaus who was able to get her out on a force at second. Nonetheless, Fournie's fielder's choice scored both Stephanie Beyer (pinch ran for Harris) and Scott to give Illinois State the lead at 2-1.
With two out in the bottom of the sixth, Illinois State would get one more run when Cutie Taylor got on compliments of a fielder's choice. Jami Bagnall then singled to left moving Taylor to second before a wild pitch by Stremsterfer gave her third. Katie Shifflet then singled to score Taylor giving the Birds a 3-1 advantage.
Despite being down two runs heading into its last at-bat in the seventh, SIU would not go away as Amanda Rexroat hit a leadoff single to left. Following a Julie Meier fly out, Stremsterfer reached on an error to short which allowed Kendra Moore (pinch ran for Rexroat) to go from first to third before another SIU error scored Moore on the same play to cut the deficit to 3-2. Kurth then struck out both Marta Viefhaus and Elissa Hopkins for the game's final two outs as the Redbirds took the 3-2 win.
Kurth took the win to improve to 13-3 on the year. Stremsterfer suffered her second straight loss of the year to fall to 17-4. She had just two strikeouts through six innings of work.
SIU, now 24-11, 10-3, will return home to host Western Kentucky in a doubleheader at 2:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Apr. 11.
