Southern Illinois University
Se Louisiana
Softball Loses Heartbreaker to Southeastern Louisiana
03/09/2002 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 9, 2002
Tallahassee, Fla. - Senior Kristy Menke hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Southeastern Louisiana (13-13) a 2-0 win over Southern Illinois (10-5) earlier today at the Florida State Seminole Invitational.
Freshman Amy Harre pitched a no-hitter through five innings before a single by Emily Stelly rallied the Lions in the bottom of the sixth. Following Stelly's single to left, Sara Gascon reached on a throwing error by Harre to give Southeastern Louisiana runners on second and third with no one out.
Harre then beared down and forced Menke to ground out to first and Stacey White to hit into a fielder's choice. Haley Viefhaus scooped up the White grounder and threw home to peg Stelly on the play.
With two away, Brooke Kostic walked to keep the Lions' threat alive, but Harre caught Heather Dye looking on strikes to get out of the jam.
After a scoreless seventh, both teams headed into the international tiebreaker to start the eighth. For SIU, Jen Guenther was automatically placed on second in the top half of the frame. Jami Weddle then followed with a walk before a pinch hit SAC-bunt by Kelly Creek moved the runners.
With runners on second and third and one away, Lions pitcher Susan Hill got Kendra Moore to line out to right and Tahira Saafir to pop up to short to silence the Saluki attack.
Stelly was placed on second to lead off what would be the final Southeastern Louisiana at-bat. A SAC-bunt by Gascon advanced Stelly to third before Menke sent Harre's first delivery over the left field wall to end the game at 2-0. Menke's home run marked her sixth of the season.
Harre, who went the distance, allowed two hits, struck out four batters and was touched for just one earned run as she fell to 4-3 on the year. Amazingly enough, Henke's home run marked the first round-tripper Harre has given up in her life.
"I kind of knew the time was going to come," said Harre. "I was throwing to a .440 hitter and when you are pitching, you really don't think of things like this. I threw her (Henke) an inside fast ball and she turned and got all of it. I just didn't expect it to happen like it did."
Offensively, the Dawgs scattered just three hits as Saafir, Adie Viefhaus and Moore accounted for the trio.
SIU, who finished second in its pool, will enter bracket play in the Seminole Invitational tonight against No. 4 Nebraska at 5 p.m.
