Two no-hitters in one week

Branden Peterson
Sports Reporter

The Lady Cougars went 8-2 at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla., but the big story was the pitching of RyAnn Spann.

Spann was able to throw two no-hitters, the first against Molloy College of Rockville Center N.Y., and the second against Southwest State University of Marshall, Minn.

Only three other players have been able to accomplish such a feat, one of whom was head coach Sandy Montgomery in 1984. Ramona Nunez and Deanna Smith also threw multiple no-hit games in 1995.

Erin Newman, Mandy Uhrhan, Valerie McCoy and Kelly Clay were able to score twice for the Lady Cougars in the game against Molloy College. Katie Waldo, Jill Ibeck, Jennifer Esker and Stephanie Ing were able to score as well as the Lady Cougars won 12-1.

While the Lady Cougars scored big on the offensive side, Spann did the rest. She threw five innings, facing 16 batters, striking out six and giving up no earned runs.

In their final game of the break, the Lady Cougars met Southwest State.

SIUE won 12-0 in seven innings. Spann was able to throw a no-hitter for the second time.

She faced 24 batters and struck out 10. Only three walks kept Spann from pitching a perfect game.

In their first game of the break, the Lady Cougars faced the Fighting Knights of Lynn University.

The Lady Cougars beat the Fighting Knights 5-3, with runs from right fielder Cindy Kolda and center fielder Melissa Lindgren. SIUE was able to get two runs from Waldo.

In their next game, the Lady Cougars only allowed the Lake Superior University Lakersto score one run, besting them 9-1.

Kolda answered the call again and produced three runs for the Lady Cougars.

Also scoring runs for the Lady Cougars were Amy VanderVinne, Koree Claxton, Clay, McCoy, Lindgren and Waldo.

Game three placed SIUE against Minnesota State University-Mankato.

This time Uhrhan stepped up to give the Lady Cougars an early lead.

After Uhrhan's first run, the rest of the Lady Cougars followed the lead and scored nine more runs to Minnesota State's two.Wayne State University was the next team on the Lady Cougars' list. Runs were scored by Ing, Uhrhan, Clay and VanderVinne. The game was ended by Kolda and McCoy scoring two runs.

With total team effort, the Lady Cougars had their first shutout of the year, beating Wayne State 8-0.

In the fifth game, the Lady Cougars took on the Bearcats of Binghamton University.

VanderVinne, Newman and Esker all had runs, but in the end they weren't enough to beat the Bearcats. SIUE lost 4-3.

The Lady Cougars battled back after a tough loss to the Bearcats and produced a win against the Lady Panthers of Adelphi University 5-1.

Runs were scored by Waldo, Clay and McCoy. Newman was able to score two runs.

In the ninth game, the Lady Cougars faced the Eagles of Ashland University. The Eagles shut out the Lady Cougars 2-0. In that game, Newman, Clay and McCoy were the only Lady Cougars to produce hits. The Eagles Shay Mulford was the only player on either team to drive in a run.

After an impressive 8-2 outing in Florida, SIUE met Truman State University at home, but due to deadline, the Alestle was unable to cover the doubleheader.

The Lady Cougars will play the University of Missouri-Rolla Wednesday on the road.