After waiting out two rain delays, the Illinois State softball team ended its season in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on a damp note on Friday.
The Championship Committee determined that with the television contract for the airing of the championship game on Saturday, there wouldn't be enough time to get all the games in to determine an official champion. Inclement weather and field conditions at Charlotte West Stadium Rochman Field complicated matters further. All tournament games on Friday were cancelled with the championship game to be held tomorrow at noon between Creighton and Southern Illinois.
"I think its really unfortunate for everyone," Illinois State head coach
Melinda Fischer said. "This has never happened before and there has been so much parity in our league this season that any one of the six teams could have come out the winner. It's a situation that's beyond our control, but I give Southern Illinois credit for doing all they could for us to have a chance at playing. I just feel badly for our seniors and I think it is important to play as many games as you can when you are in a tournament like this."
No. 1 seeded Southern Illinois and No. 2 seeded Creighton will play tomorrow at noon in what has been deemed the championship game. Both of those teams were 1-0 in the tournament after one day of play. Southern Illinois defeated Wichita State 1-0, while the Bluejays also downed Evansville, 1-0.
