SIUC softball player Jen Feldmeier’s offensive showing in the Bradley Invitational this weekend in Orland Park was one of the many things that impressed coach Kay Brechtelsbauer in the team’s fifth-place finish.

Feldmeier, a junior outfielder, went 4-for-5 and drove in four runs in victories against Kankakee College and St. Francis College. She also had a 3-for-4, 2-RBI performance in a win against Bradley University.

Feldmeier had a great offensive weekend, Brechtelsbauer said. She got hits in four out of the six games we played.

Advertisement

The Salukis ended the 20-team tournament with a record of 3-3, after losing 3-0 to DePaul University and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside 3-1, in the opening round Friday.

SIUC went on to win three of the next four games to earn the fifth-place finish.

The Salukis defeated Kankakee 9-1 and St. Francis 3-1 Saturday and won 6-0 against Bradley Sunday.

Northern Illinois University eliminated SIUC from competition by a score of 4-3 Sunday. The Salukis had a 3-0 lead in the second inning until NIU scored four runs in the fifth inning to hold on for the victory.

Brechtelsbauer said the team showed great composure with its ability to improve throughout the tournament.

This gave me a great opportunity to see our players, she said. I was very pleased with the way they progressed.

Brechtelsbauer said she also was surprised to see the unexpected contributions from freshmen players. Freshman outfielder Marta Viefhaus went 3-for-3 and added a home run in the win against Bradley, while freshman pitcher Erin Stremsterfer earned her first collegiate win against St. Francis.

Advertisement*

The freshmen came on strong, Brechtelsbauer said. I could just see them getting better and better.

Brechtelsbauer said the trio of junior captains Feldmeier, catcher Brooke Hattermann and first baseman Theresa Shields enabled the newcomers to become more relaxed and learn their roles.

They really helped the team chemistry, she said. They’re doing a good job of teaching and showing a lot of leadership.

This weekend, the Salukis travel to Rock Island for the National Invitational Championships, and Brechtelsbauer said the team has a good idea of where it stands as it prepares for the National Invitational Championship.

We used this as a little measuring stick to see where we stand, she said. We just need to go back home to the drawing board.