Creighton earned its second straight Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship title, as the Bluejays shutout the tournament host, Southern Illinois, 5-0, in the league’s rain-shortened post-season.  In front of a crowd of 598, at Charlotte West / Rochman Field, Creighton pitcher Tammy Nielsen, the Valley Pitcher of the Year, stuck out 10 Saluki batters and scattered five hits in her 25th victory of the year. Nielsen was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.

With clouds looming, Creighton jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Southern Illinois’ hurler Amy Harre committed two throwing errors from the circle on what seemed to be routine outs. With the early led, the Bluejays took an aggressive approach at the plate, pounding seven hits. Melanie Dorsey posted two hits for the Bluejays, while five different players scored for Creighton. For Southern Illinois, designated player Lauren Roney smashed two hits, but the Salukis stranded eight runners on the day. Harre, 19-6, stuck out 10 batters, but was four errors, led to three unearned runs for Creighton.

2004 All-Tournament Team
Emily Winters, Evansville
Casey Clutch, Evansville
Katie Shimon, Drake
Katie Wappler, Drake
Emily Krueger, Illinois State
Randi Patton, Illinois State
Lindsay Craig, Wichita State
Stephanie De la Riva, Wichita State
Maria Domico, Southern Illinois
Lindsey Bonnell, Southern Illinois
Amy Harre, Southern Illinois
Melanie Dorsey, Creighton
Caitlin Marcano, Creighton
Kari Shank, Creighton
Tammy Nielsen, Creighton

Thursday, May 13
Game 1 Wichita State 2, Drake 0
Game 2 Evansville 4, Illinois State 3
Game 3 S. Illinois 1, Wichita State 0
Game 4 Creighton 1, Evansville 0

Friday, May 14
Game 5 Cancelled
Game 6 Cancelled
Game 7 Cancelled
Game 8 Cancelled

Saturday, May 15
Game 9 Creighton 5, Southern Illinois 0

Due to four inches of rain and continuing showers on Friday, the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination, six-team Missouri Valley Conference Softball Tournament was cancelled.