Southern Illinois University
Florida Atlantic
Softball Loses to No. 21 Florida Atlantic
02/23/2002 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 23, 2002
Boca Raton, Fla. - All-American pitcher Nicole Myers threw a one-hit shutout to lead No. 21 Florida Atlantic to a 2-0 win over Southern Illinois (6-3) earlier tonight at the Florida Atlantic Invitational.
SIU committed four errors which allowed Florida Atlantic to score both runs unearned.
Heather Wright singled to lead off the top of the third inning. Myers then reached on a fielder's choice which moved Wright to second. Cally Piper followed with a routine ground ball to third baseman Haley Viefhaus, but Viefhaus overthrew first base to put runners on second and third. A Pam Bellisari bloop single on the ensuing play scored Myers giving the Owls a 1-0 lead.
Florida Atlantic would get its other run in the bottom of the sixth when a Piper single led off the frame. Piper then advanced to second when SIU second baseman Tahira Saafir muffed a pick off attempt. A single by Pam Mazzella put Piper on third before a wild pitch by Renee Mueller sent her to the plate to complete the 2-0 shutout.
Myers struck out 12 batters en route to her one-hit performance. She no-hit the Salukis through six complete innings before an Adie Viefhas single in the seventh ruined her hitless bid.
Mueller (1-2) took the fall on the mound for the Salukis. In seven innings pitched, she struck out three batters, while allowing four hits.
SIU, now 2-2 in the Florida Atlantic Invite, will enter playoff action tomorrow as the No. 3 seed. SIU will take on No. 2 seeded Florida Atlantic at 11 a.m. The winner will then face Florida International at 1 p.m., in the championship game.
