Southern Illinois University
26-6, 6-0
Missouri State
18-17, 4-5
Softball Holds Off SMS 3-2 In MVC Play
04/03/2004 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 3, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Lauren Roney drove in the winning run and Alison Thompson shut down an SMS (18-17, 4-5 MVC) seventh-inning rally as Southern Illinois (26-6, 6-0 MVC) came from behind to beat the Bears 3-2 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at SMS Softball Field. The win is SIU's 14th straight and leaves the Salukis 6-0 in MVC play.
"I thought we swung the bats well early. Amy (Harre) set the tone early in the game by throwing strikes and getting their top hitters out. We did a great job responding to their early run and Ali (Thompson) did a great job closing the door," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
SMS took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an unearned run, but the Salukis responded with two runs in the top of the inning on Katie Jordan's eighth home run of the year, a two-run blast to leftfield. The homer, her 22nd, ties her for second all-time at SIU and gave the Salukis a 2-1 lead.
"Jordan's hitting the ball well right now and the rest of the team is getting on base to set the table for her to drive in runs," added Blaylock.
In the fifth inning, Roney singled to drive in Adie Viefhaus, who reached on a fielder's choice, for a 3-1 lead and the winning run.
Amy Harre (10-1) controlled the game until the sixth inning, when SMS scored another unearned run on a bizarre play. Sara Cole walked and SIU first baseman Katie Louis made an error on a grounder by Deanna Keim, trying to throw Cole out at second, but threw the ball into centerfield. Cole advanced to third on the throw and scored when SIU shortstop Jenny Doehring caught Keim off first and threw the ball off Keim, allowing Cole to score and cutting the SIU lead to 3-2. Catcher Adie Viefhaus backed the play up and threw back to Doehring to pick Keim off at second to end the wild play.
The Bears led the seventh inning off with a single by Michelle Johann. After a pinch runner came on for Johann, Christy Serwein reached on a fielder's choice, when Harre made a throwing error trying to get pinch runner Jessica Leathers out at second base.
That's when Thompson entered the game for Harre. SMS laid down a sacrifice to put the winning run at second base and the tying run at third base. Thompson forced a pop out by by Katie Martin for the second out and struck out Cole to win the game and collect her fourth save of the year.
Harre struck out four, walked two and allowed two unearned runs and five hits in six innings. Thompson struck out one and didn't allow a hit or a walk in one inning of relief.
SMS's Amanda Herbster allowed three runs on four hits in the loss. Herbster struck out four and walked two in seven innings.
Jordan (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI), Lindsey Bonnell (1-for-2, run), Adie Viefhaus (1-for-3, run) and Roney (1-for-4, RBI) led the SIU offense.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harre, Amy (10-1)
L: Herbster (9-7)
S: Thompson (4)
Batting:
HR: Jordan 1
RBI: Roney 1 ; Jordan 2
SH: Doehring 1 ; Carter 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bonnell 1 ; Jordan 1 ; Viefhaus, A. 1
HBP: Creek 1
Batting:
2B: Jager 1
RBI: Keim 1
SH: Cole 1 ; Keim 1 ; Buslepp 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cole 1 ; Gerland 1
