Nonconference play continued to shine a generous light on the Saint Louis University softball team.
The Billikens powered their way toward two road victories Tuesday evening against University of Tennessee-Martin.
SLU defeated the Skyhawks 2-1 in the first game and dominated the nightcap with a 5-1 victory.
Sophomore Nicole Bohnenstiehl provided all the offense that was needed for a Billikens victory. Bohnenstiehl broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning with a towering home run. Adrienne May singled to start the inning.
The Billikens’ next two batters went down in order before Bohnenstiehl blasted her fifth of the season.
Shortstop Janet Venorsky added two of the Billikens’ five hits. Sophomore pitcher Heather Hubert did her part in making sure the two-run homer was enough for a SLU victory. Hubert mowed down seven Skyhawks, tying her season high. UT-Martin’s only run came on Sarah Davis’ sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hubert’s victory was her ninth on the season.
The Bills improved their record to 15-19 on the season after a victory in the second bill of the doubleheader. The Billikens’ exploded with nine hits, including doubles by Bohnenstiehl, catcher Kalee Reichert and pinch-hitter Kristin Rossi.
The Skyhawks, 17-22, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to a solo homerun by Meredith Ramsey. The Bills quickly settled down and in the top of the second, the offensive barrage began.
The Bills scored three runs in the second. After Beth Yagge walked, and Venorsky reached on an error, Reichert put the Billikens on the board and gave them a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Cori Bittick walked before May singled in Reichert, extending SLU’s lead to 3-1. Junior Adrie Bogaars kept the offensive attack going in the fourth inning with a solo home run to lead off the inning.
Bogaars’ homer, along with Bohnenstiehl’s first-game shot, tied the SLU single season record for home runs. The power, hitting duo have each recorded five round.
The Bills added some insurance in their half of the seventh when Bohnenstiehl doubled to score Rossi after she lined a pinch-hit double off UT-Martin’s Andrea Rushing. Bohnenstiehl double-dutied for the Billikens, as she pitched her way to a nine-strike out, four-hit victory. The win bumped her season record to 6-12.
SLU will look to improve on their two-game-road winning streak when they travel to play Austin Peay today in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. The Bills then return home to play conference rival UNC Charlotte in a three-game series at the Billiken Sports Center. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and Sunday’s game is set to begin at noon.
