Southern Illinois University
Indiana St
Softball Crushes Indiana State
04/13/2002 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 13, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - Shortstop Adie Viefhaus delivered five hits, while centerfielder Maria Damico had four to lead Southern Illinois (22-12, 9-4) to a sweep of Indiana State (11-24, 2-13) earlier today in a doubleheader at IAW Fields. The Salukis smashed the Sycamores 10-2 in the first game and 8-0 in the second as both contests lasted just five innings.
On the day, Viefhaus went 5-for-7 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI, and Damico went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and one RBI as the Dawgs scattered a combined 22 hits in the twin bill.
In game one, SIU jumped all over Indiana State from the start as each of the Viefhaus' scored to give the Salukis a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. A. Viefhaus, who reached on a double, came home on a Katie Jordan groundout before her sister Haley was driven in on a single by Kelly Creek.
Things fell apart defensively for the Sycamores in the bottom of the second as two errors led to six unearned runs. With one away, second baseman Kate Van Wechel muffed an easy pop fly in foul territory which kept Tahira Saafir's at-bat alive.
Saafir, who singled following the miscue, then went to third on an error by rightfielder Sarah Kothe. With runners on the corners, hits by A. Viefhaus, Jordan, Damico and Elissa Hopkins accounted for five of the six runs. The other run then scored on an RBI-walk by Jen Guenther as the Salukis increased their lead to 8-0.
After SIU batted around in the wild second, pitcher Amy Harre led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run in what was just her second at-bat as a Saluki. Another single by A. Viefhaus would set up another run as Jami Weddle hit safely to plate Viefhaus making it 10-0, Dawgs.
Indiana State, however, would avoid the shutout as a bases loaded walk by Kate Gentile allowed Stacey Sparger to score easily in the top of the fourth. Kate Gilner then scored one final run for the Sycamores in the fifth, but it wasn't enough as the Salukis went on to post the 10-2 beating.
Harre picked up the win, and as a result, snapped a streak of four consecutive losses on the mound. Harre, who hadn't won a decision since March 30 against Illinois State, struck out seven batters on a five-hitter. She is now 11-8 on the season.
Dawn Minas suffered the loss for the Sycamores in just her second start of the season as she fell to 0-2. Minas was tagged for 12 hits and 10 runs, including four earned.
Offensively, nine different Salukis posted hits spearheaded by A. Viefhaus (3) and Damico (2) who each had two or more. Jordan, Creek, Weddle, Guenther, Hopkins, Saafir and Harre then rounded out the hit parade.
In the nightcap, SIU scored two or more runs in the second, third and fourth innings en route to another eight-run bashing.
RBI-singles by A. Viefhaus and Weddle gave the Salukis a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning where Damico led off the frame with a single. Damico then went to second on an error by third baseman Jill Weiss before scoring on Weddle's hit. A SAC-bunt by Saafir and a Kendra Moore fielder's choice enabled Weddle to go to third before she would score as well.
Consecutive hits by Creek, Damico and Guenther set up another two-run threat in the top of the third as Guenther plated both Hopkins (pinch ran for Creek) and Damico on a two-RBI rip to right which made it 4-0, SIU.
Still not finished, the Salukis used a pair of walks by Jordan and Damico, and two-RBI hits from Guenther and Weddle to score four more runs in the top of the fourth. H. Viefhaus and Jordan scored off Guenther's poke to center, while Damico and Guenther touched home on Weddle's double to left as the Dawgs cruised to the 8-0 shutout.
Katie Kloess (5-1), who pitched her first complete game of the season, earned the win for the Salukis on the mound. Kloess struck out four batters, while being touched for four hits in five innings of work.
Cassie Reeser (6-11) took the fall for Indiana State pitching five innings with eight strikeouts.
At the plate, A. Viefhaus, Damico, Guenther and Weddle smacked two hits apiece to combine for eight of the Salukis' 10 pokes.
SIU will conclude its three-game series with Indiana State tomorrow in a single game at noon.
Notes: Indiana State has been outscored 65-2 in its last seven contests. If SIU wins tomorrow, Kerri Blaylock will become the quickest head coach in SIU softball history to reach 100 career wins. Blaylock is now 99-53 overall in three seasons at the helm. A win would allow her to surpass former head coach Kay Brechtelsbauer (1977-82) who coached nearly six seasons before winning 100 career games.
