Southern Illinois University
28-7, 8-1
Evansville
29-10, 4-5
Softball Shuts Out Evansville 8-0 In Five Innings
04/07/2004 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 7, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois rebounded from its first loss in four weeks, as Amy Harre's two-hit shutout led SIU to an 8-0 win over Evansville in five innings in the first game of an MVC doubleheader on Wednesday at West Stadium. The win improves SIU's (28-7, 8-1 MVC) home win streak to 13 straight games.
"I thought Amy (Harre) set the tone for the day and did a good job keeping shut down. She took it up another notch and I hope she does it again this weekend. Our offense stepped up today with two big two-out hits and took advantage of their mistakes. Our defense played great as well," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said.
Harre (11-2) allowed just two singles in five innings with a strikeout to win her 11th game. She returned the first five batters, allowed a hit, and then retired eight more batters before allowing a second single in the fifth, followed by two ground outs. No runner reached second base in the game.
The Salukis provided Harre with all the runs she needed, breaking a scoreless tie in the third inning and scoring four unearned runs. Adie Viefhaus singled to open the frame and Christina Andrews came in to pinch run for Viefhaus. After an out, Lauren Roney reached on an error and Lindsey Bonnell laid down a bunt single to load the bases. Following a pop out, Katie Jordan singled to leftfield to drive in Andrews and Roney for a 2-0 lead. Jordan advanced to second on an error by the leftfielder on the play, which was key in the inning. Haley Viefhaus followed with a double to drive in Bonnell and Jordan and SIU led 4-0.
"I think it was huge that we jumped on the scoreboard first. Anytime you can get on the board first, you feel better, but our pitching and defense was good and we felt we would hold them down. (Lauren) Roney, (Katie) Jordan and Haley (Viefhaus) all had big hits today. We have different people stepping up," Blaylock added.
Southern Illinois followed the third inning with three more runs in the fourth inning on just one hit. Adie Viefhaus was hit by a pitch with one out, Samantha Carter was walked, and Roney reached on an infield single to load the bases. Bonnell and Jenny Doehring were walked back to back to score Adie Viefhaus and Carter for a 6-0 lead and chased Evansville starter Katie Markle after 3.1 innings.
UE's Kim Nichols came in relief and walked Jordan to drive in Roney and SIU led 7-0. With the bases still loaded, Haley Viefhaus reached on a fielder's choice, but Bonnell was forced out at home. Nichols forced Katie Louis to pop out with the sacks still loaded to end the inning.
In the fifth inning, needing one run to end the ballgame on the eight-run, after five innings rule, the Salukis put the game away. Carter forced a walk with two outs and then stole second base. Roney singled to end the game with an 8-0 win.
Evansville's Markle (12-5) allowed seven runs (three earned), five hits and three walks with two strikeouts in the loss. Nichols walked two and allowed a hit and an earned run in 1.1 innings of relief.
Roney (2-for-4, RBI, 2 runs), Jordan (1-for-2, 3 RBI, run, BB), Haley Viefhaus (1-for-2, double, 2 RBI), Bonnell (1-for-2, RBI, run, BB) and Adie Viefhaus (1-for-2, run) powered the eight-run attack for SIU.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harre, Amy (11-2)
L: Markle (12-5)
Batting:
2B: Viefhaus, H. 1
RBI: Roney 1 ; Bonnell 1 ; Doehring 1 ; Jordan 3 ; Viefhaus, H. 2
SH: Louis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roney 2 ; Bonnell 1 ; Jordan 1 ; Viefhaus, A. 1 ; Andrews 1 ; Carter 2
SB: Carter 1
HBP: Viefhaus, H. 1 ; Viefhaus, A. 1
