The Saint Louis University softball team got its first taste of defeat last week, and apparently it did not sit well.
After starting out with four straight wins, the Billikens dropped their first game of the season against Indiana State in the first game of the University of Tennessee Martin softball tournament.
They responded by ripping off four more consecutive wins, including a revenge victory against Indiana State en route to winning the tournament.
Their record heading into the weekend stands at 8-1, the best start in school history.
The weekend started out sour for the Billikens as they dropped their first game 7-0. The Billikens ended up with the same amount of hits as Indiana State, but they wasted many scoring opportunities and left 10 runners on base. Nicole Bohnenstiehl took the loss for SLU, giving up two runs and striking out four in four innings.
SLU rebounded in their next game against UT-Martin as Heather Hubert struck out five batters and threw a three-hit shutout as the Billikens won the game 4-0. SLU powered its way to the lead in the second inning with back-to-back home runs from junior catcher Adrie Bogaars and first baseman Beth Yagge.
“The pitchers control has been great, they are throwing all of their pitches right where I call for them. They are mixing it up and hitting their spots and it’s getting people out,” said Bogaars.
It did not take the Billikens long to get started on their new winning streak as they played their third game of the day against Lipscome. For the second time that day Hubert pitched well enough in the Billiken’s 7-5 victory to earn a win, her fourth win of the season. Sophomore Jessica Saucado had two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Billikens offensively. Bohnenstiehl gave up only one run in the final four innings to earn her second save of the season.
The Billikens earned the top seed for the tournament day and were once again pitted against Indiana State.
This time it was SLU’s turn to score first, and score often, as they ended up winning the game, 5-1. Bohnenstiehl’s single scored senior Erin Jeffery in the third inning, and Jamie Hayden added a RBI single in the fourth.
Hubert allowed only one unearned run on her way to picking up her fifth win of the year and her third win in two days.
Matched up against Lipscome in the championship game it was Bohnenstiehl who lead the Billikens to a 4-2 win with both her pitching and hitting.
She drove in SLU’s first run of the ball game in the first inning and added an insurance run late in the game with her third home run of the season.
She also pitched a complete game, giving up only two runs and striking out seven.
The victory was extra special for Jeffery who tied the Billiken career softball record for hits with her single in the first inning bringing her career number to 143. This ties the mark previously set by Dawn Elser and Missy Keim.
It also turned out to be a big week for Bogaars, who was named Conference USA’s Hitter of the Week for the period ending Feb. 24. Bogaars hit .389 in five games last week.
She also added two home runs and four RBI. Bogaars becomes the first Billiken to be awarded the honor since softball became a league sport.
“Last year, I hit the fence a lot. I have been working out a little more and the ball seems to be carrying a little better. I am just seeing the ball really well and putting good swings on the ball. All the hard work is paying off,” said Bogaars.
“The way that we’re playing is really unexpected. The team as a whole is playing really great, especially the pitchers, they are throwing the ball extremely well,” Bogaars noted.
The Billikens will try to build on their four-game winning streak and continue their success this Saturday at the Southeast Missouri State Tournament.
Once again they will play five games in two days, starting with Iowa State at 10 a.m.
They also play Mississippi and Indiana State on Saturday. They finish the tournament off on Sunday against Creighton and host Southeast Missouri State.
“I think the difference has been our intensity. We have come together as one unit and are all focused on one common goal,” said Bogaars.
