With every game, the softball team encounters another first. And the season is only seven games old.
The Billikens opened the year with the best record since 1987 (4-1), had its first four-game winning streak in seven seasons and had its first conference Pitcher of the Week in the program’s history.
“I knew the team had a lot of talent,” said Bohnenstiehl, who picked the pitcher of the week award last week. “It just took a couple of people coming in. We should be 6-1. We were only legitimately beaten in one game.”
SLU opened the season at Tennessee State on Feb. 25. The Billikens lost 1-0 to the Tigers. Tennessee State picked up its lone tally in the bottom of the fifth.
Bohnenstiehl picked up the complete-game loss, striking out nine and walking four.
Revenge came quickly, as the Billikens blew out the Tigers 10-2 later that day. SLU’s offense exploded for six runs in the second inning.
Erin Jeffrey led the Billikens’ attack, with 3 runs batted in during the contest. Heather Hubert picked up the win, pitching five innings, surrendering two runs on only five hits.
The Billikens then traveled to play Tennessee-Martin for a two-game series. SLU dispatched with the Skyhawks, sweeping the series on March 1-2.
SLU opened with 4-3 win, scoring the winning run in the top of the seventh inning and holding off UT-Martin for the win. Bohnenstiehl picked up the win for the Billikens, pitching seven innings and striking out nine.
The Billikens again held on to another one-run victory. SLU held a 3-0 lead through four innings. The Bills gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh but were able to pick up the win. Hubert recorded 11 strikeouts in the seven-inning win.
SLU dispatched with UT-Martin in the first game of the Louisville tournament, winning 6-0. The Billikens drove in all six runs in the third.
Beth Puttcamp and Adrie Bogars drove in two runs each. Bohnenstiehl struck out 17, while walking only two in seven innings. Her 17 strikeouts set the school record for strikeouts in a game.
SLU ended the tournament by losing two games. Even though they outhit Toledo 7-5, they lost to Toledo 2-1, on March 3. Toledo scored the game-winning run in the sixth. Hubert picked up the loss for the Billikens. She struck out nine and walked only two.
The Billikens were shut out for the first time this year by Eastern Kentucky on March 3. The Billikens managed seven hits, but couldn’t push any runs across.
SLU is currently 4-3 on the season and has not played a conference game yet.
Bohnenstiehl was 2-0 last week and was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 5.
She tallied 17 strikeouts against UT-Martin. She recorded at least one strikeout in every inning and struck out the side four times.
Bohnenstiehl transferred from Southern Miss after playing for the Golden Eagles for two seasons.
“I’m from the area, and I wanted my parents to be able to see me play,” Bohnenstiehl said. “I’m a bio-engineering major, and the program here is better than at Southern Miss. I chose school over softball.”
Bohnenstiehl said the honor could mean more for the team than for her.
“I was really surprised. We wouldn’t win if the team wasn’t hitting well,” Bohnenstiehl said. “I hope that this will bring more recognition to the team.”
SLU hits the road for the Georgia State Tournament in Atlanta this weekend. SLU faces Mercer and Eastern Michigan on March 9. SLU then faces Furman on March 10.
