March 6, 2000

Fort Myers, Fla. - The Saint Louis University softball won two of three games in day two of action at the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla. on Monday. Kristin Rossi picked up a 7-6 victory over St. Joseph's before the Bills dropped an 8-0 game to Grand Valley State (Mich.). Rossi came back in the evening to pitch SLU to a 6-4 decision over Holy Cross.

In game the St. Joseph's game, the Billikens bats came alive and SLU held off a late charge by the Hawks. Saint Louis opened the game with two runs in the first to give Rossi an early lead. After St. Joseph's scored one run in the bottom half of the first, the Billikens added two more runs. The Hawks pulled to within 4-2 with a single tally in the third. The game remained 4-2 until the eventful sixth. SLU tallied three runs after a double by Bridget Fletcher and the eventual game-winning triple by Beth Puttcamp. The Billikens held a 7-2 margin before St. Joseph's scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh for the final 7-6 score.

Grand Valley State did not give up a hit as they eased to the 8-0 decision. The Lakers scored one run in the first and tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the third. Jennifer Messmer was making her first pitching appearance for the Billikens this season.

Versus Holy Cross, the Billikens earned a bit of revenge with a stirring 6-4 victory over the Crusaders. Holy Cross grabbed the early led off of Rossi with two runs in their first at bat. Saint Louis earned one run back in the third and tied the game in the fourth. Holy Cross pushed across two runs to grab a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Janet Venorsky drilled the game-winning double to cap off a four-run frame for SLU. Rossi kept the Crusaders off the board in the seventh for her third win of the season.

The Billikens improve their record to 4-5 on the season. SLU plays two games on Tue., March 7.