Southern Illinois University
36-11
Creighton
24-22
Softball Loses To Creighton 2-1 In MVC Tournament Semifinal
05/09/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 9, 2003
#4 seed Creighton (24-22) scored two unearned runs on a wild play in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat #2 seed Southern Illinois (36-11) 2-1 in the winner's bracket semifinal of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Friday at Cooper Stadium on the University of Evansville campus. SIU is 34-36 in tournament play overall and 4-7 under Kerri Blaylock in four years at the MVC Tournament.
"I've never seen anything like that in all my years of coaching. The way it played out was surreal to me. I don't want to get caught up in the loss. We played really well up until that moment. Amy (Harre) pitched great and Adie (Viefhaus) came up with a big two-out hit that put us in the lead in the first place. I'm proud of the kids and it's just a very heart-wrenching loss," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
SIU scored the game's first run in the top of the sixth inning. Kelly Creek singled to open the inning and Kendra Moore ran for Creek. After Maria Damico popped out to the catcher, Katie Jordan sacrificed Moore to second. Adie Viefhaus followed with a two-out double to leftfield, scoring Moore for a 1-0 lead.
Amy Harre (20-9) held Creighton to just three hits in the first six innings before she walked Cara Van Winkle to open the bottom of the seventh and then struck out Ashlee Trapp to set up the bizarre finish.
CU's Melanie Dorsey attempted a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners but SIU catcher Adie Viefhaus slipped when she went to pick up and throw the ball, allowing Dorsey to reach on a hit. Viefhaus decided to throw to second to try to get Trapp, who had already reached the bag, but the ball hit second base and bounced sharply into deep leftfield. Damico, the centerfielder, chased the ball down and threw home trying to get Trapp, but the throw took a tough hop and escaped Viefhaus at the plate, allowing Trapp to score. The ball rolled around and eventually into the Creighton dugout becoming a dead ball and allowing Dorsey, who never stopped running after the bunt single, to score the winning run. Viefhaus and Damico received errors for the throws which allowed the runners to advance and score unearned.
Despite just giving up four hits in 6.1 innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts and three walks, Harre suffered the loss.
Creighton's Tammy Nielsen (18-5) struck out five, walked four and gave up five hits and picked up the win on the game's strange final play. The Bluejays will face the winner of the loser's bracket at 2:30 p.m. in the championship game on Saturday.
Creek (1-for-2) Adie Viefhaus (1-for-3, double, RBI), Damico (1-for-3), Lindsey Bonnell (1-for-3) and Lauren Roney (1-for-3) led SIU at the plate.
The Salukis will face #5 Evansville on Saturday at 12 p.m. SIU must win that game and beat Creighton twice to win the MVC Tournament Title. SIU won two of three games during the regular season versus the Purple Aces.
"We've got two good pitchers so I think we can win three games. I just want the opportunity to play for the title. The kids play three games a day in summer ball so it won't be a shock. I just told them to get me to the championship game," said Blaylock.
In the first two games of the day, Evansville eliminated SMS 3-1 and Wichita State knocked out #1 seed Illinois State 1-0 on a combined no-hitter to set up their Friday night matchup, which Evansville won 4-3.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nielsen (18-5)
L: Amy Harre (20-9)
Batting:
2B: Adie Viefhaus 1
RBI: Adie Viefhaus 1
SH: Lindsey Bonnell 1 ; Katie Jordan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kendra Moore 1
SB: Lindsey Bonnell 1
Batting:
SH: Shank 1 ; Dorsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Van Winkle 1 ; Dorsey 1
