Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Hosts Creighton In Crucial MVC Series
04/23/2004 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 23, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
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CARBONDALE, Ill. - With three weekends left in the Missouri Valley Conference season, Southern Illinois (34-11, 11-5 MVC) will host Creighton (31-12-1, 11-5 MVC) for a crucial three-game MVC series between two teams tied for second place. The Salukis (first) and Blue Jays (second) were picked to finish in the top two spots of the 2004 MVC Coaches Preseason Poll.
"This is a big series. It was going to be a big series when the season started because of where we were picked in the MVC polls. Last year we won a couple two-run games and lost a one-run game in a tight series. They have Stacy Rybar and Abby Johnson, who are good players that have experience. They play with confidence, put the ball in play and have been hitting the ball well. We just hope to stick with them and have a chance to win in the late innings," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
"I hope we come out with a lot of enthusiasm and set the tone early. We just want to hit the ball hard, relax and have fun down the stretch these last three weeks," added Blaylock.
With two of the leagues best pitchers throwing this weekend, hitting will be at a premium.
"They have Tammy Nielsen and we have Amy Harre, two of the top pitchers in the league. In a three-game series you can throw your top pitcher twice. You have to have a plan at the plate against Nielsen and lay off her best pitch. You have to be patient. We beat her last year even though she struck us out 19 times in one game. You hope you can get a home run or two like last year, since she's a riseball pitcher," stated Blaylock.
Creighton also presents a threat on the bases, stealing an amazing 49 of 55 bases this season, but Blaylock believes the Salukis are ready.
"Catchers Adie Viefhaus and Amanda Clifton have done a good job throwing people out against the teams that steal a lot. We're going to be ready for them and hopefully we'll be able to throw them out and keep them from running wild this weekend."
The Salukis are coming off a split of the four-game road trip to Kansas, losing two of three to Wichita State before beating Kansas 5-3 in ten innings on Monday. The losses to WSU dropped SIU into a second place tie with Creighton. Wichita State now leads the Valley with a 13-5 mark.
The Salukis trail the all-time series with the Blue Jays 12-15 and are 4-8 under Blaylock. SIU won two of three last year at Creighton, but lost to the Bluejays at the MVC Tournament.
The SIU games with Creighton will be broadcast live via internet streaming by Colin Gaffney and Thad Jackson and scored live via Gametracker. Both services can be found on SIU's home page at www.siusalukis.com.
