Southern Illinois University
33-9, 11-3
Wichita St.
27-18, 11-5
Softball Shuts Out Wichita State 5-0
04/17/2004 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 17, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
WICHITA, Kans. - Amy Harre and Alison Thompson combined to pitch on a one-hit shutout, leading Southern Illinois (33-9, 11-3 MVC) to a 5-0 win over Wichita State (27-18, 11-5 MVC) in game one of a doubleheader at Wilkins Stadium on Saturday. The win gave first place SIU a two-game lead over the second place Shockers.
"I thought Amy threw a very good game and had a no-hitter if not for a bunt single. She really threw the ball well. Amy set the tone, but the game dragged on and she walked a few people late in the game. We brought Ali(Thompson) in and she shut them down to get the win," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
Harre (13-3) dominated the Shockers through six innings, allowing just a bunt single in the sixth inning and two walks with four strikeouts. She walked the first two batters in the seventh, prompting Blaylock to bring Thompson on in relief. Thompson struck out a batter and forced a fly ball to get the first two outs. She walked the next batter to load the bases, before forcing a ground out to second base to end the game.
Offensively, SIU took advantage of ten walks by Wichita State pitchers and four errors by WSU fielders to score five runs in the game one win.
"I was proud of the kids. We just put the ball in play and got them out of their comfort zone. Lindsey Craig is a good pitcher and she may have been rattled by the errors, which we capitalized on," added Blaylock.
SIU struck first in the third inning, scoring one unearned run on one hit and an error. Jenny Doehring reached on a two-base error, when Wichita State leftfielder Allison Horst dropped a routine fly ball and Doehring hustled to second base.
Following an out, Katie Jordan walked. After a groundout, Adie Viefhaus walked to load the bases. Amanda Clifton singled to drive in Doehring for a 1-0 lead.
The Salukis added another three runs in the fourth inning on one hit, an error, a sacrifice fly and four walks. Alex Pepin came in to pinch hit and collected a leadoff walk. Samantha Carter followed with another walk to put runners on first and second. Doehring grounded to second base, but WSU first baseman Ashley Lynn dropped the ball, allowing Doehring to reach safely and load the bases with no outs, chasing Wichita State starter Lindsey Craig. WSU reliever Lindsey Lang came in to face pinch hitter Cassidy Scoggins, flied out to leftfield to drive in Pepin for the sacrifice fly and a 2-0 SIU lead.
With two outs and runners at first and second, Haley Viefhaus continued her clutch hitting with a double to the gap in right-centerfield, driving in Carter and Doehring for a 4-0 lead. SIU made it three straight innings with a run in the fifth. Maria Damico walked to open the frame and advanced to second on Carter's sacrifice. Lindsey Bonnell walked with two outs to leave runners on first and second. Jordan grounded to shortstop, but WSU's Miranda Feldman threw the ball into rightfield trying to get Bonnell at second, allowing Damico to score unearned, giving Southern Illinois a 5-0 lead.
WSU's Craig (15-8) allowed four runs (three unearned), three hits and five walks. She struck out three in the loss. Lang allowed one run, one hit and five walks with two strikeouts in relief.
Clifton (2-for-3, RBI), Haley Viefhaus (1-for-4, 2 RBI) and Jordan (1-for-5, 2 runs) collected SIU's four hits.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harre, Amy (13-3)
L: Craig (15-8)
Batting:
2B: Viefhaus, H. 1
RBI: Scoggins 1 ; Viefhaus, H. 2 ; Clifton 1
SH: Bonnell 1 ; Louis 1 ; Carter 1
SF: Scoggins 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Doehring 2 ; Damico 1 ; Pepin 1 ; Carter 1
