March 20, 2001

Box Score

St. Louis - The Saint Louis University Billiken softball team opened the home portion of its schedule with a sweep of a doubleheader over Tennessee-Martin on Tuesday. The Billikens were forced to rally in both games but were victorious by scores of 2-1 and 7-1.

In the first game, UT-Martin took a 1-0 on a walk and two straight singles. Skyhawk pitcher Tracy Fryer held the Billikens in check for five innings but the Bills scratched out a run in the bottom of the sixth. Beth Puttcamp beat out a bunt single and stole second base. She moved up on a passed call and scored when pitcher Nicole Bohnenstiehl helped herself with an RBI double to tie the game. In the top of the seventh, UTM threatened by putting two runners on. Angela Baize lined a single to left field which appeared as if it would scored Amy Harclerode from second, but Puttcamp gunned Harclerode down with a perfect throw to preserve the 1-1 score. In the bottom of the seventh, the Billikens pushed across the winning run. Kerri Higgins began the inning with a single to center and Jamie Hayden put down a sac bunt. Erin Jeffrey then drove Higgins in with a single to center and a 2-1 victory. Bohnenstiehl went the distance for her eighth win of the season and struck out 13 UTM batters.

In the second game, UTM struck first again in the third inning on two hits and a SLU fielding error for a 1-0 advantage. The Billikens tied it in the bottom half of the third with Puttcamp taking advantage of her speed once again. She beat out a ball to the shortstop and then stole second base. Puttcamp moved to third on a wild pitch and Beth Yagge scored her on an RBI groundout to shortstop. The score remained tied until the Bills broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. Adrie Bogaars began the inning with a single to left. Bohnenstiehl then doubled to right center. Janet Venorsky singled down the left field line to give the Billikens a 3-1 lead. Hayden scored two runs on an error by the Skyhawks and Jeffrey plated another run with a double. Darci Cadieux pinch hit and came through with an RBI single to close out the six-run outburst. Freshman Heather Hubert went seven innings and struck out eight hitters in picking up the victory.

The Billikens improve to 12-8 on the season. On Thursday, March 22, Wichita State visits for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. at The Billiken Sports Center.