Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Adds Local Division I Transfer Alison Thompson
08/22/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Aug. 22, 2003
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University softball team, returning 13 members of its Sweet Sixteen 2003 NCAA Tournament team, have added another weapon in senior transfer Alison Thompson of nearby Vergennes, Ill. Thompson, a pitcher with NCAA Tournament experience, comes to SIU from Division I Liberty University of the Big South Conference.
"Anytime you can get a local kid who's a good player and a good person, we're very excited about it. I think her experience will be great for the younger pitchers. She pitched in the NCAA Tournament against #1 UCLA in 2002 and you can't buy that experience. She adds depth to the staff and that's a huge lift," said SIU Head Coach Kerri Blaylock.
Thompson, an Elverado High graduate, led Liberty in earned run average in 2002 (2.63) and 2003 (1.70). She was named Big South All-Tournament and the Big South Championship MVP in 2002 after going 2-0 with a save at the Big South Tournament to lead the Flames to their first-ever NCAA Regional appearance. Thompson had a team-high 12 wins and a 1.82 ERA as a freshman. She followed up with a 10-13 mark in 2002 and a 10-21 record in 2003. The 12 wins as a freshman was a career-high and she has a total of 32 career wins. She has 440 strikeouts (218 in 2003), which ranks in Liberty's top five all-time. The right-handed pitcher scattered four hits in 1.2 innings against College World Series runner-up and #1 UCLA in the 2002 NCAA Tournament, including a strikeout against the NCAA's all-time home run hitter, Stacey Nuveman.
Blaylock will add Thompson to a staff that includes junior ace Amy Harre (all-MVC and all-NCAA Region VIII) and incoming freshmen pitchers Ashley Hamby and Cassidy Scoggins to form a form four a four-person rotation.
"I'm always hesitant to keep more than three pitchers on a staff, but what drew me to Alison is that she's a fantastic person, a very good leader and player and she asked for no guarantee of playing time. She just wanted to be part of a good team. That changed my mind and you never know what can happen during a year. She's willing to take on any role, which shows that's she's a team player. We've talked to her about a role as a closer or playing a position and hitting again," added Blaylock.
The Salukis were 39-14 last year and will open the season for the second straight year at the 3rd Annual Triple Crown Classic on February 6-8 in St. Augustine, Florida.
The Salukis return 13 athletes from the 2003 Sweet Sixteen team, including postseason honorees Amy Harre, Jenny Doehring, Adie and Haley Viefhaus, Kelly Creek, Lindsey Bonnell, Katie Louis, Katie Jordan and Maria Damico.
