The Saint Louis University softball team brought its season to a close in a winning fashion Monday evening, sweeping the University of Tennessee-Martin 3-0 and 3-2. The two victories mark the end of a hard-fought season for the Billikens, who finished the season with a 24-27 record.
The sweep followed a heartbreaking road trip to South Florida where they saw their hopes of reaching the Conference USA tournament fade away with three straight losses to the Bulls.
However, the season-ending victories over the Skyhawks were a fitting end to a successful season.
The Bills were in charge of game one from the beginning. They jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first.
After consecutive singles by Erin Jeffery and Kerri Higgins, Nicole Bohnenstiehl drove in her 30th run of the season with a single to right field.
In the third inning, the Billikens grounded the Skyhawks with back-to-back home runs by Beth Yagge and Bohnenstiehl.
The consecutive blasts were the first time that feat has been accomplished at the Billiken Sports Center.
Bohnenstiehl did more than provide the pop at the plate-she mowed down UT-Martin while on the mound.
The junior ace was practically unstoppable in game one. She allowed only two hits while striking out 11 in earning her 12th victory of the season.
The victory was a milestone for head coach Jim Molloy.
The win was his 68th career victory at SLU, surpassing Vicki Schneider, who coached the Bills from 1978-1982.
In game two UT-Martin jumped out to an early lead. The Skyhawks led 2-0 until the Billikens were able to tie the game with two runs in the fifth.
Pitcher Heather Hubert and left fielder Beth Puttcamp reached on errors to begin the inning. With two out and the bases loaded, Yagge stepped to the plate and rifled a double to left to tie the game.
Bohnenstiehl relieved Hubert in the sixth inning and shut down the Skyhawks in the final two innings. Bohnenstiehl was able to claim her 13th victory of the season, but not before the Billikens went to work in their half of the seventh.
Adrienne May beat out an infield single and moved to second on Jeffery’s sacrifice bunt.
Higgins then singled to left. The ball squirted past UT-Martin’s left fielder, scoring May to win 3-2.
Unfortunately for the Billikens, their series with South Florida was not as victorious as their sweep of the Skyhawks.
The Bills were defeated in all three games in Tampa, Fla., including a heartbreaking series finale loss on Sunday. SLU saw a two-run lead slip away in the bottom of the 10th inning as they were defeated 7-6.
The Billikens had broken a 4-4 tie in the top of the 10th after Venorsky powered a two-run homer. Everything seemed to go without incident until two outs were recorded in the bottom of the 10th inning.
With two outs, South Florida’s Holly Groves hit a ball back to Bohnenstiehl on the mound, but a wild throw put runners on the corners. Then Ginny Georgantas tripled to right field to tie the game 6-6.
Georgantas scored the game-winning run after Renee Oursler laid down a perfect bunt.
The loss dropped the Billikens conference record to 5-17 and erased their postseason hopes. However, their season was by no means a failure.
Many records were broken and streaks accomplished. This was a Billiken team to remember, and definitely one that will be in contention of a conference title when next season rolls around.
