The Shawnee State University Softball Team closed out the 2003 season as they lost two games to Mt. Vernon Nazarene University in the opening round of the American Mideast Conference Tournament.  Rhonda Sacks (6-9) took the loss in the opener.  She gave up 5 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits in 7.2 innings of work.  She struck out 5 and did not walk a batter.  Sacks was once again victimized by poor fielding.  SSU committed 4 errors in the game, which led to 3 of Mt. Vernon’s runs.  Nikki Moore had 3 hits and drove in 2 runs.  Katie Gunnoe, Sarah Streeter, and Kristi Coleman had 2 hits apiece.   Molly Binz (7-6) took the loss in the nightcap.  She gave up 6 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits in 7.0 innings.  Shawnee State managed just 4 hits in the game.  The Bears had singles from Kristin Graham, Sarah Streeter, Kristi Coleman, and Candace Tibbs. 

Mt. State University defeated Shawnee State 4-3 in 8 innings.  The game had been scheduled as part of a double-header, but rain caused the cancellation of the nightcap.  Rhonda Sacks (6-8) took the loss.  She allowed 4 runs on 9 hits in 7.1 innings.  She struck out 4 and walked one.  She gave up the game-winning double in the bottom of the 8^th when she left a pitchout over the plate.  Whitney Dingess lined the pitch into centerfield to score De De Miller.   Shawnee State pounded out 12 hits in the game, but failed on several scoring opportunities.  The Bears stranded a total of 10 runners in the game.  Katie Gunnoe, Nikki Moore, Kristi Coleman, and Sonya Salazar had 2 hits each. 

Shawnee State swept a double-header from the Quakers of Wilmington College by scores of 8-0 and 8-7.  In the first game, Shawnee defeated Wilmington 8-0 in 5 innings.  Rhonda Sacks (4-5) picked up with win for Shawnee.  She went 5 innings allowing no hits and struck out 5.  Katie Gunnoe led the Bears with 4 hits, 2 runs, and 1 RBI.  Kristi Coleman added 3 RBI’s, 2 hits, and 2 runs. Danielle Holden (1-0) picked up her first collegiate win in Game 2.  She gave up 6 runs on 10 hits as she worked the final 5.0 innings in relief of Molly Binz.  Kristen Graham led the way for the Bears hitting the game winning double in the bottom of the 7th.  She had 3 RBI’s and 2 hits for the game.  Keri Bennett added 2 RBI’s, 2 hits, and 1 run for Shawnee.  

The Shawnee State University Softball Team split a double-header with Cedarville University.  SSU lost the opener 7-0.  The Bears won game 2 by a score of 1-0 in 13 innings.  Rhonda Sacks (3-5) took the loss as she was once again victimized by poor defensive play.  The Bears committed 4 errors in the game, which led to 4 of Cedarville’s 7 runs.   Cedarville’s Julie Burt did not allow a hit in the game as she struck out 11.  She was a walk away from a perfect game.  Molly Binz (6-2) picked up the win as she pitched 13 scoreless innings for her 3^rd shutout of the season.  Binz scattered 6 hits, allowed 1 walk, and struck out three.  The Bears scored the lone run of the game in top of the 13^th inning.  With 2 outs in the inning, Keri Bennett singled to right field.  She promptly stole second then advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Kristi Coleman followed walks to Katie Gunnoe and Sarah Streeter with a single up the middle, which scored Bennett from third.

The Shawnee State University Softball Team swept a double-header from the University of Rio Grande by scores of 1-0, and 3-1.  Rhonda Sacks (3-4) picked up the win in the opener as she pitched her 2^nd consecutive shutout.  She allowed three hits while striking out three and walking four.  The game was knotted at zero in the 7^th inning.   Shawnee State loaded the bases on a walk to Kristi Barka and consecutive bunt singles by Sonya Salazar and Kristin Graham.  Keri Bennett followed with a grounder to short.  Rio shortstop, Kristen Chevalier, made a high throw to home, which allowed Mindy Yoe (running for Barka) to score the winning run.  Molly Binz (5-3) won the second game.  She allowed one run on seven hits while striking out two.  She did not allow a walk for the second straight game.  Rio scored on consecutive hits in the first inning, but was unable to scratch the plate from then on.  Sarah Streeter hit a 3-run homerun in the bottom of the 6^th inning to give the Bears the come-from-behind victory. 

Shawnee State swept a double-header from Urbana University by scores of 10-0 and 5-0.  Rhonda Sacks (2-4) picked up the win in the opener.  She allowed just 3 hits in 5.0 innings of work.  She struck out 3 and did not walk a batter.  Stephanie Black had a double, a homerun, and 3 RBI.  Sarah Streeter, Nikki Moore, and Kristi Barka also had 2 hits apiece in the game.  Molly Binz (4-2) got the win the nightcap.  She allowed just 3 hits in 7.0 innings.  Sarah Streeter, Nikki Moore, and Stephanie Black continued their hot hitting from the first game.  They had 2 hits each.

Shawnee State split a double-header with Urbana University.  Shawnee State held a 5-0 lead in the 5th inning of the opener when the wheels fell off.  The Bears gave up 7 runs (only 2 earned) over the final 2 innings to lose 7-5.  Rhonda Sacks (1-4) took the loss.  Kristen Graham had 2 hits in the game.  Katie Gunnoe drove in 3 runs.  Shawnee State won the nightcap by a score of 7-4.  Molly Binz (3-2) picked up the win.  Keri Bennett, Kristi Coleman, and Kristen Graham had 3 hits apiece.  Coleman added 2 RBI.