The SIUC women’s softball team took the field in the National Invitational Championship last weekend proving they can hold their own against some tough competition.

Softball head coach Kay Brechtelsbauer said the competition level is very high because of the caliber of teams playing in the tournament.

This tournament is tough every year, she said. There are some teams in it that are ranked in the top five or 10 in the nation, so we are playing some really good competition. We faced some good competition and showed that we can compete.

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The 20-team exhibition tournament, held at the Alan Campbell Complex in Rock Island, included such teams as the University of Notre Dame, Ohio University and last years defending tournament champion Oklahoma State University.

Brechtelsbauer said the tournament also provides a team with an opportunity to see where it stands before starting the regular season in the spring.

Our confidence was very good this week, she said. I’m very pleased with that I’m seeing.

Every player is enthusiastic and hungry to win.

On Friday, SIUC began the tournament against Bradley University and defeated the Lady Braves 13-8. SIUC then forced Ohio University to watch the rest of the tournament from the stands in a 7-2 rout, before suffering a 1-0 loss to the University of Nebraska on Saturday.

The competition was comprised of four pools, consisting of five teams each. The three best records in each pool advanced to the next level of action.

SIUC finished second in their pool after beating Notre Dame 5-1 on Saturday following their game with Nebraska. SIUC’s 3-1 record allowed them the opportunity to face Oklahoma State, the 1994 tournament champion.

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Although Oklahoma State was able to sneak by SIUC in a 3-1 win, it was Illinois State who eventually won the tournament. ISU was crowned tournament champion after defeating Nebraska 5-4.

The level ISU played at did not surprise Brechtelsbauer.

ISU is always tough. They have a strong defense and they are loaded with talent, she said.

Brechtelsbauer said it is a little to early to tell how SIUC stands among other teams in the Valley.

It is a little too early to tell, but I know it is going to be tough, she said. We are definitely going to have to get better because everyone else will.

This weekend SIUC will host the Saluki Invitational at the IAW fields. Competing in this weekend’s tournament will be John A. Logan College, the University of Tennessee Martin, Rend Lake College and St. Louis Community College-Meramec. SIUC will play John A. Logan Saturday at 12 p.m. on the North Field. At 2 p.m. they face Tennesse-Martin on the North Field.