With the end of the season approaching quickly, the Saint Louis University softball team has just one goal in mind: winning as many of the remaining eight games as possible.
Tuesday, the Billikens (21-28, 2-13 Conference USA) split a double header against the UMKC Kangaroos. The Bills won the first game 1-0, but dropped the second 9-3.
“We played acceptable enough to win,” said coach Jim Molloy.
“Right now, a lot of players don’t have a complete focus on softball, with the season ending, finals coming up, and moving out,” Molloy said.
In the first game, pitching phenom sophomore Nicole Bohnenstiehl kept the Kangaroo offense at bay by allowing just seven hits.
UMKC’s Shelly Miller tried to match Bohnenstiehl, allowing just two hits in six innings, but the Billikens stepped up in the seventh inning.
UMKC had an opportunity to advance in the top of the seventh, with two runners on base when the Kangaroos’ Lindsey Ramsey lined a ball into left field.
SLU’s Beth Puttcamp came up with a huge defensive play and prevented UMKC from scoring.
Later in the inning, Meredith Henry walked, and Jamie Saucedo came in to pinch run.
With two outs on the board, Jamie Hayden lined a single to centerfield, putting Saucedo in scoring position.
Erin Jeffrey plated Saucedo with a single to right field to win the game.
Jeffery recently broke the record of 144 single-season hits last week in a 2-1 victory over Southeast Missouri State.
Jeffery has also broken the at-bats record of 150, set last season by teammate Beth Yagge.
In the second game, the Billikens did not fare as well against UMKC.
The Kangaroos scored in four straight innings, scoring two unearned runs in the second inning, and two more runs in the third.
The Billikens tried to rally in the bottom of the fourth when Janet Venorsky singled to get on base, and scored after an Adrie Bogaars two-out double.
UMKC would not let the Billiken run go unanswered.
The Kangaroos matched the effort in the fifth inning by scoring lead-off hitter Becky Burger on a Lindsey Ramsey single.
The Bills scored again in the bottom of the inning when Jamie Hayden scored Kerri Higgins.
But, the Kangaroos fought back in the seventh inning, scoring three runs on three hits to push the score to 9-2.
SLU scored one final run as Hayden grounded out to the pitcher to score Puttcamp.
The Bills will host their final home series of the season when C-USA rival Houston visits on Sunday, April 29 for a double header.
The match will mark the final appearance at the Billiken Sports Center for lone senior Meredith Henry.
“We should be pretty evenly matched,” Molloy said.
“We’re not hitting as well as we should, and our pitchers are under mental pressure and physical strain, as well as school obligations,” Molloy said.
As the season draws to a close, the Billikens will shift their focus to finishing the remaining eight games with as many wins as possible.
“We’re hoping to do well, win our last eight games and go into the conference tournament with a good pairing,” Molloy said.
“One or two wins can make the difference whether we play DePaul, Southern Miss, or any of the top teams.
“It can dictate our success in the conference tournament,” said Molloy
