Posted: May 05, 2021

Pitchers Shut Down Opposition To Advance

For the first time since 1999 the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament had eight teams competing for the postseason title. And it was the pitchers that dominated in the opening round with all four winners coming up with shutout victories. It marks the first time in conference tournament history there have been four shutouts during one tournament. In fact there were only three total shutouts in the last four tournaments combined.

The four winners from the quarterfinals will now head to Fulton, Missouri for the double-elimination portion of the tournament. Thursday's games will pit #1 Fontbonne against #5 Iowa Wesleyan at 3 p.m. while #2 Webster will face #3 Spalding at 5:30 p.m. There will be three more games on Friday with championship day on Saturday.

Fans are allowed at the tournament, keeping in mind social distancing and mask regulations. Admission prices are $5 for adults, $3 for students, and free for under 16 years of age.

Quarterfinals - #1 Fontbonne def. #8 Blackburn, 6-0 BOX SCORE

The top seeded Griffins jumped on top of the Beavers early, plating four runs in the bottom of the first before cruising to a 6-0 win. Grace Harlin got the scoring started for the Griffins with a three-run double and would later come around to score on another double, this time from Patience Vandermierden. Vandermierden drove in another run in the 3rd with a single and Madison Galczynski capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly. Michaela Mason picked up the win for Fontbonne, going 5 innings and allowing just two hits while striking out four. The first round win marked the teams first postseason win since 2016, also the last time they won a SLIAC regular season title.

Quarterfinals - #2 Webster def. #7 Eureka, 4-0 BOX SCORE

Making their first tournament trip since 2018, Webster got a shutout performance from Reese Waggoner. The pitcher threw a complete game, allowing just two hits while striking out two. Abby Burroughs put the Gorloks on the board in the 3rd with an RBI single that scored Sidney Holtz. An error in the 4th tacked on another run while Sheyla Iniguez made it 3-0 on an RBI groundout. Burroughs continued the scoring in the 4th with an RBI single.

Quarterfinals - #3 Spalding def. #6 Greenville, 1-0 BOX SCORE

The Golden Eagles of Spalding played the tighest game of the opening round, advancing past Greenville by a 1-0 score. Spalding got all the scoring they would need in the 1st inning when Grace Sweat singled in Olivia Carter. Carter worked a solid 7 innings in the circle, scattering seven hits while striking out six. The Panthers threatened in the 6th inning with back-to-back singles to start the inning but Carter picked up a ground out, strike out, and line out to get out of the jam.

Quarterfinals - #5 Iowa Wesleyan def. #4 Westminster, 6-0 BOX SCORE

The only upset of the tournament came with a 6-0 win by Iowa Wesleyan over Westminster. Tiger pitcher Morgan Christner kept the Blue Jays offense at bay, limiting them to just five hits over 7 innings while striking out 10. The Tigers were finally able to breakthrough in the 3rd inning when Ivy Geerdes ripped a two run single to left. Christner added to her own cause in the 5th with a solo home run that made the score 3-0. The next inning it was Kara Krieger delivering a home run of her own, a two-run shot. Christner struck again with another long ball in the 6th that pushed the score to 6-0.