Southern Illinois University
vs. Illinois State (MVC Tournament)
Softball Eliminated from MVC Tournament, Ends 2002 Season
05/10/2002 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 10, 2002
Normal, Ill. - Junior Katie Shifflet delivered a pinch-hit game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Illinois State (32-16) a 1-0 win over Southern Illinois (31-16) earlier today at the Missouri Valley Conference Softball Tournament.
The loss marked SIU's second straight in the tournament as it went two-and-out for the first time since 1999.
Although Shifflet's hit was huge, the game belonged to Audra Rast who showed why she is this year's MVC Pitcher of the Year.
Rast struck out a career-high 15 batters, including a stretch of seven straight between the third and fifth innings. She also limited the Salukis to just four hits over her 10-inning marathon win.
While Rast was dominating SIU hitters, junior transfer Renee Mueller was also doing a remarkable job of locating her pitches, and as a result, threw one of her best games of the season.
Mueller, who pitched a no-hitter six days ago against Wichita State, held the Redbirds hitless through four complete innings before giving up a single to Shae Wesley in the bottom of the fifth.
Despite Wesley's hit, neither team would really threaten offensively until the top of the seventh when Jen Guenther walked and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Maria Damico. Guenther, who marked the game's first runner to touch second base, however, couldn't go any further as Jami Weddle grounded out to first to end the inning.
After the Salukis went down in order in the top of the 10th, the Illinois State faithful suddenly rallied behind their team with the hopes that the top-seeded 'Birds would accept the challenge at hand.
Following the loud outburst from the Redbird stands, second baseman Kate Stake led off with a single to left center. Jamie Bagnall then reached on an error by Mueller as her throw sailed high and pulled Guenther off the bag at first.
With runners on first and second, Dominique Borba hit into a fielder's choice, but lead runner, Stake, was forced out at third. Still with runners at first and second, Serena Cruz loaded the bases with a single to right, thus setting the stage for Shifflet.
Shifflet, who replaced Lauren Bierwirth at the plate, stepped in and smacked a high fly ball to deep center. Damico caught the ball and then quickly fired to home, but Bagnall beat the tag as the Redbirds posted the 1-0 win.
With the win, Rast improved to 23-5 on the year, while Mueller dropped to 8-5.
Offensively, the Redbirds were led by Cruz and Stake who each registered two hits apiece. SIU was led by Adie Viefhaus who went 2-for-4.
The back-to-back MVC Tournament losses ended the Dawgs' 2002 season.
