The SIUE softball team returned home from its spring break trip sporting an 11-5 record. The Cougars played their 16 games in only nine days.
         SIUE, which fell to No. 16 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's NCAA Division II poll, began its trip at the Saint Leo Tournament and opened with a 3-2 extra-inning victory against Nova Southeastern. In its next game, the Cougars dropped an 8-2 decision to Florida Southern.
         SIUE then pulled off three consecutive victories before being eliminated from the tournament by Ashland.
         The Cougars played to a 7-3 record at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla. After falling 7-6 to Lock Haven, SIUE pulled off five-straight victories. SIUE won its final game in Orlando with a 5-1 victory against St. Xavier.
         "I'm happy with our 11-5 record," said Coach Sandy Montgomery. "We still have work to do, and I think we'll get better as we play more games."
         Jenny Esker (Steeleville) leads the Cougar offense with a .431 batting average. Missy Koenig (Mapleton) leads the SIUE pitching staff with a 0.95 earned run average and 4-2 record.
         SIUE will travel to Central Missouri State University for a doubleheader on Thursday, starting at 4 p.m. The Cougars edged Central Missouri 4-3 in Orlando. SIUE will then open its conference schedule by playing host to Southern Indiana on Saturday and Kentucky Wesleyan on Sunday. Both will be doubleheaders and will start at noon at Cougar Field.

National Fastpitch Coaches Association
NCAA Division II Softball Poll
As of March 11, 2003
Rank Team Record Points Last Week
1. Barry (4) 22-5 144 2
2 California-Davis (1) 19-5 133 8
3. Angelo State 22-1 128 NR
4. Grand Valley State (1) 14-1 124 t-3
5. Georgia College & State 18-0 122 NR
6. North Dakota State 3-1 119 5
7. North Florida 18-4 112 6
8. St. Mary's 17-5 103 1
9. LeMoyne 12-3 101 15
10. California (PA) 5-0 90 12
11. Western New Mexico 20-1 87 17
12. Bloomsburg 4-2 85 t-3
13. Kennesaw State 10-1 82 10
14. Alabama-Huntsville 14-3 76 21
15. Nebraska-Omaha 4-1 70 14
16. (tie) SIU Edwardsville 7-3 67 11
Texas A&M- Kingsville 15-6 67 16
18. Armstrong Atlantic State 13-2 61 9
19. West Florida 13-5 37 19
20. Humboldt State 20-11 32 20
21. St. Cloud State 7-3 23 13
22. Columbus State 15-2 21 NR
23. Ashland 4-1 19 19
24. Cal State Bakersfield 19-9 15 t-25
25. Wayne State 8-4 10 NR

Dropped out: Coker, Lock Haven, Chico State, Mesa State, Tampa, Central Oklahoma

Others receiving votes: LIU-C.W. Post 8, Delta State 6,
Minnesota-Duluth 3, Washburn 3, Southeastern Oklahoma 2.


         -siue cougars-