Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Sw Missouri St
Softball Splits with SMS
04/06/2002 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 6, 2002
Springfield, Mo. - Freshman Katie Jordan went 3-for-6 with a home run, one run scored and two RBI to lead Southern Illinois (20-12, 7-4) as it split a doubleheader with Southwest Missouri State (16-14, 6-5) earlier today at SMS Softball Field. SIU fell in game one by a score of 5-3 before turning around to win the nightcap, 3-2.
In the first game, SMS took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning where Christy Serwein led off with an infield single. Serwein stole second on the next play and coasted to third when a wild throw by SIU catcher Karrie Fortman sailed into centerfield. Serwein was then driven in on a one-out single by Ashley Meredith.
Two Saluki errors in the bottom of the third led to another SMS run as Jessica Leathers reached on a miscue by third baseman Haley Viefhaus. Serwein and Bean followed with back-to-back groundouts which moved Leathers over to third.
Meredith then hit a rocket to second baseman Tahira Saafir who made a diving stop with plenty of time to get Meredith. Saafir, however, bobbled the ball on her throw to first and Leathers scored on the error to give the Lady Bears a 2-0 advantage.
SIU used back-to-back singles by Adie Viefhaus and Jordan to ignite a rally in the top of the fourth. Following the pair of hits, Maria Damico hit into a fielder's choice. With one away, Kelly Creek doubled to left to score Viefhaus and Jen Guenther singled to right center. Damico came home on Guenther's poke, and just like that, the Salukis had tied the game at 2-2.
The Dawgs' momentum was short-lived heading into the bottom of the fourth as SMS responded quickly with consecutive one-out hits by Bonnie Jones and Annie Medico.
With Jones and Medico occupying first and second, pitcher Amy Harre then fell apart. Harre threw two wild pitches that allowed both runners to score before one more error, this time by Jordan (moved to catcher in the fourth), scored Leathers to make it 5-2, in favor of the Lady Bears.
Trailing by three, the Salukis scored one last time in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Jordan. Jordan's round-tripper, which marked her third of the season, however, wasn't enough as SIU went on to suffer the 5-3 loss.
SIU committed five errors in the game as Harre (10-8) struggled to her fourth straight loss on the mound. In six innings pitched, Harre struck out seven batters and allowed six hits.
Tauni Kennemer picked up the win for the Lady Bears and moved to 11-6 on the year. Kennemer posted four strikeouts, while allowing seven hits.
Offensively, the Dawgs were led by Jordan and Guenther who each went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
In game two, SIU overcame a two-run deficit and took its first lead of the game on a double by Saafir in the bottom of the fourth inning.
SMS built a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on a two-RBI single by Amber Curtis.
The Salukis then answered in the bottom half of the third with RBI-singles from Jordan and A. Viefhaus. Both hits added to a total of three in the inning as the Dawgs knotted the game at 2-2.
After sitting down the Lady Bears in the top of the fourth, the Salukis began the bottom half with a single by Creek. Guenther then flied out to left before a single by H. Viefhaus put runners at first and second. With one away, Saafir stepped in and delivered a clutch two-base hit that would turn out to be the game-winner as the Dawgs posted the 3-2 win.
Renee Mueller (6-3) threw a complete game for just the third time this season en route to earning the win on the mound. Facing two runners on with two out in the SMS seventh, Mueller calmly got out of the jam despite being bothered by back problems.
Kennemer (11-7) suffered the loss for the Lady Bears. In four innings of work, Kennemer was tagged for eight hits and two earned runs.
SIU was led by Saafir who went a perfect 2-for-2 with a double, a run scored and one RBI. Elissa Hopkins, A. Viefhaus, Creek (2), Jordan and H. Viefhaus also posted hits.
The Salukis will conclude their three-game series with the Lady Bears tomorrow with a single game at noon.
