Softball to Open Play at MVC Tournament
05/08/2002 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 8, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - The Missouri Valley Conference Softball Tournament returns to Normal, Ill., for the third time since 1987 as the 2002 league championship will be played at the Redbird Softball Complex on the campus of Illinois State University. The three-day event, which runs from Thursday-Saturday, May 9-11, will feature the Valley's top six teams battling for the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Championship.
2002 MVC Tournament Preview
Thursday, May 9Game 1 - #1 Illinois State (30-15, 21-4) vs. #6 Northern Iowa (32-24, 12-13) NoonGame 2 - #2 Creighton (26-26, 18-7) vs. #5 SW Missouri State (23-26, 12-12), 2:30 p.m.Game 3 - #3 Southern Illinois (31-15, 17-7) vs. #4 Evansville (30-24, 16-8), 5 p.m.Game 4 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 10Game 5 - Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3, 10 a.m.Game 6 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 5, 12:30 p.m.Game 7 - Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 3, 3 p.m.Game 8 - Bye or Loser of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 7, 5:30 p.m.Game 9 - Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 7, 6 or 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 11Game 10 - Winner of Game 8 vs. Loser of Game 9, NoonGame 11 - Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10, 2:30 p.m.Game 12 - (If necessary) Winner of Game 11 vs. Loser of Game 11, 5 p.m.
Dawgs on the Radio . . . For the first time this season, SIU softball will hit the airwaves as all of its games throughout the 2002 MVC Tournament will be broadcasted live by Richard Blakely on 103.9 FM (WXAN). In addition to tuning in on the radio, all broadcasts can also be heard via the internet at www.siusalukis.com. However, Real Audio Player is required to listen.
Salukis Seeded Third . . . Southern Illinois was seeded third as pairings for the 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship were set earlier this week. Illinois State, who won the league's regular season title for the second straight season, earned the No. 1 seed. Creighton (No. 2), Evansville (No. 4), SMS (No. 5) and Northern Iowa (No. 6) then rounded out the top six.
Planting Seeds . . . This year's MVC Softball Tournament seedings came down to the final day of regular season play as Creighton swept Bradley to clinch the No. 2 seed. Following the Bluejays' sweep, Evansville and SIU were then tied for third until Northern Iowa took two of three games from the Purple Aces. The two wins, which lifted SIU to the No. 3 seed, also earned the Panthers a No. 6 berth and eliminated Wichita State's tournament hopes.
Now Playing . . . This year will mark SIU's 19th appearance in the MVC Softball Championship where it holds an overall tournament record of 33-35 (.485). Since beginning in 1983 (Macomb, Ill.), SIU has missed just one trip to the league's postseason fling in 1995. In addition, the Salukis' 33 tournament wins rank a third-best behind Southwest Missouri State (51) and Illinois State (46).
1991 Revisited . . . SIU, who holds just one MVC Championship crown in 18 apperances, hasn't won a tournament title since 1991. Posting a mark of 42-7 that year, the Salukis clinched their only tournament championship with a thrilling 4-1 win over Illinois State. SIU was then eliminated in the NCAA Tournament after suffering consecutive losses to Missouri (1-0) and Iowa (2-0).
Most Shared Title . . . A strong case can be made that, traditionally, softball is the conference's most evenly matched championship event. In the 19 tournaments (MVC/Gateway), nine different teams have won the title. Southwest Missouri State (4), Illinois State (5) and Drake (2), however, are the only current members with more than one title. Additionally, former Gateway member Western Illinois has won three softball titles.
Host with the Most? . . . In the 19 previous softball championships, the home team has never won the crown. In addition, the host has only advanced to the title game five times in 19 tries. Three of the first four title games involved the host (1983, 1984 and 1986), but since then, only twice has the host finished higher than third (Creighton, 2nd in 2001, SMS, 2nd in 1994). Although the host has not won a league softball crown, they have combined for five second-place and seven third-place showings.
SIU vs. the Field . . . SIU holds winning tournament records against two of the five opposing teams heading to this year's MVC Softball Championship. Sporting a 7-2 tournament advantage over No. 5 SMS, SIU also stands at 6-4 against No. 1 Illinois State. No. 2 Creighton (3-2), No. 4 Evansville (1-0) and No. 6 Northern Iowa (6-4) then rank as the three team's in this year's field to have posted winning marks against SIU.
Strong to the Finish . . . SIU has won 12 of its last 15 games, and as a result, finished the 2002 regular season in third place, just one game behind Creighton. The Salukis, who were pre-season ranked fifth among league contenders, also finished behind regular season champion Illinois State.
Pitching Prestige . . . SIU has led the Missouri Valley Conference and ranked nationally in ERA for six straight seasons. Sporting a 1.09 ERA as a team, the Salukis have struck out 225 batters in 313.1 innings pitched this year. In addition, Saluki hurlers have earned nine saves and have been touched for just 49 earned runs.
Salukis in First Round Games . . . Since the Gateway Conference Tournament became the Missouri Valley's in 1993, SIU has gone 5-3 in first round games. Posting a 3-4 tournament mark under head coach Kerri Blaylock, the Dawgs fell to Creighton (5-4) in a 14-inning, first-round marathon last season.
Awesome April . . . Freshman right-hander Amy Harre dominated the MVC Pitcher of the Week honor for nearly the entire month of April as she took the award three straight weeks. Harre's five MVC Pitcher of the Week awards this year currently tie for the most won by a SIU hurler in a season. Erin Stremsterfer (1998-2001), who was named the league's Pitcher of the Week 10 times in her career, took the honor on five consecutive occasions last season. Harre was named MVC Pitcher of the Week on February 18, March 11, April 15, April 22 and April 29 this season.
Fired Up . . . Ace pitcher Amy Harre has been on fire as of late posting eight consecutive complete game wins. Harre, who boasts a 0.65 ERA this season, stands at 18-8 on the year and has struck out 165 batters in 183.2 innings pitched. In addition, she has eight saves which rank atop the Valley.
Hip, Hip, Harre!! . . . For the fifth straight week, freshman Amy Harre was ranked among the NCAA's Division I national softball leaders. Thru games of May 7, Harre lists fourth in ERA (0.65) and tied for third in saves (8). In addition, she has spearheaded the Saluki pitching staff which not only leads the Valley, but ranks eighth nationally in ERA (1.09).
Mueller Time . . . Junior left-hander Renee Mueller was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, announced May 6 by the league office. Mueller pitched a no-hitter with four strikeouts in a 1-0 win over Wichita State (5/4). A native of Johnston City, Ill., she also moved to 8-4 on the season and allowed just one runner on base in the win. Her complete game no-hitter, which marked both the first of her career and first for the Salukis this season, was also the first for an SIU pitcher since Erin Stremsterfer (1998-2001) did it at New Mexico State on Feb. 24, 2001. Mueller was the second Saluki pitcher to garner the weekly honor this season.
Great Guenther!! . . . Jen Guenther batted .333 (3-for-9) with two doubles and two RBI in SIU's final regular season series against Wichita State on May 3-4. Guenther, who leads the team with seven two-base hits this season, hit a two-RBI double in the top of the sixth inning to give SIU a 2-0 win over the Shockers last Friday. Guenther's two runs batted in also added to a team-high of 25 on the year.
Thirty Something . . . Southern Illinois is one of four teams in the Missouri Valley Conference to have finished the 2002 regular season with 30 or more wins. Standing at 31-15 overall, the Salukis are joined by regular season champion Illinois State (30-15), Evansville (30-24) and Northern Iowa (32-24).
Simply Rook-markable . . . Freshmen Katie Jordan (.290), Amy Harre (.286), Kelly Creek (.277) and Maria Damico (.224) are currently batting .224 or better this season. In what appeared as if the youth of this year's team might be a concern early on, this patented foursome has been nothing but dominant. On the year, the four have combined for 91 hits, 50 runs, 14 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 46 RBI. In addition, their nine home runs account for over half the team total of 15 this season.