The main objective of the SIUC softball team this week was recuperation.

Playing five games in two days caused the Salukis to return from last weekend’s Mardi Gras Classic in Monroe, La., with one thing on their mindsrest before the teams plays its first home game Saturday in the Southern Classic at IAW fields.

Coach Kay Brechtelsbauer tried to give her players as much rest as possible by giving her team the first half of the week off to recover, after opening the season 4-1. One of the wins was a 7-6 triumph over then 25th-ranked Tennessee.

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They needed the rest, Brechtelsbauer said. They played hard and when you play hard you’re going to need rest. They played a lot of games, particularly this early in the season.

The break could not have came at a better time for freshman pitcher Erin Stremsterfer. On top of pitching 22 2/3 innings last weekend, Stremsterfer has had to deal her grandfather’s death this week. She took the entire week off to be at home with her family in Manchester, Mo.

Sophomore pitcher Carisa Winters’ three-game suspension for violating team rules forced Stremsterfer to make more appearances. Stremsterfer went 2-1, posting a 2.47 ERA.

It told us something about Erin, Brechtelsbauer said. We know she can do those kinds of things, but we don’t want to ask her to do that repeatedly. I think it showed a lot of persistence on her part. She had a lot playing time this weekend and she needed to take some off.

The pitching has been one of the surprises of the young season. The mound was supposed to be a problem after losing 1997 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Jamie Schuttek.

But the trio of Winters, Stremsterfer and sophomore Tracy Remspecher have a combined ERA of 2.56 thus far.

Remspecher said each have something different to add to the Saluki pitching staff.

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All three of us having different pitching styles, Remspecher said. It works out good, especially when somebody has come out. It’s a totally different pitching style and helps out throwing against the batters.

Offensively, SIUC will look for junior first baseman and tri-captain Theresa Shields to continue her early season tear. Shields, fully recovered from knee surgery two years ago, hit .600 (12-20) and drove in six runs last week to earn MVC Player of the Week honors.

Sophomore outfielder Nikki Cosentino said Shield has finally returned to top form. The two were rivals in high school and were taught the fundamentals by the same hitting coach.

I’m really proud of her, Cosentino said. A lot of our happy for her, especially since she couldn’t play her first year.

The Salukis open the Classic against Eastern Illinois University Saturday at 11 a.m. The University of Kentucky, Eastern Illinois University, Southeast Missouri State University and Bradley University will also be competing in the round robin tournament.

Brechtelsbauer believes NIU should her team the most problems. The Salukis do not play the Huskies until Sunday.

You got to take a look at Northern because they have a lot of people returning this year, Brechtelsbauer said. They’re a very strong program.