May 10, 2001

Box Score

Louisville, Ky. - UAB tallied a run in the bottom of the 12th inning to end the longest game in Saint Louis softball history, 2-1 in an elimination game at the 2001 Conference USA Softball Tournament, presented by UofL Health Care, in Louisville. The Bills see the best season in school history end with a record of 25 victories and 34 losses. UAB improves to 27-34.

The Bills grabbed the early lead in the first inning. Erin Jeffery singled to open the game and was moved to second on Beth Puttcamp's sac bunt. Starting pitcher Nicole Bohnenstiehl drew a walk and Janet Venorsky loaded the bases when she was hit by a pitch. Adrie Bogaars drove in her team-high 18th run of the season to put the Billikens up 1-0. SLU appeared as if it was going to push the margin to 2-0 when Beth Yagge lofted a fly ball to left field, but Bohnenstiehl was out at home to keep the lead at 1-0. Bohnenstiehl was dominating on the mound and kept the Blazers scoreless through five innings.

UAB manufactured a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game off relief pitcher Heather Hubert. Candice Hithe singled and stole second. She moved up to third on a groundout and scored when Cliffanie Engram beat out an infield hit.

The Billikens had numerous chances to win the game in extra innings, but were stymied each time. Saint Louis had the leadoff hitter reach base in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings but could not push across the go-ahead run. Hubert kept UAB off the board with splendid pitching and sterling defense behind her.

Saint Louis' best chance to score was in the top of the 12th. Puttcamp doubled over the head of UAB's left fielder with one out and Hubert followed with an infield single to put runners at the corners. Venorsky laid down a squeeze bunt but Puttcamp was nailed at the plate by a perfect throw from UAB third baseman Hithe and Hubert was caught at third to end the threat.

UAB's Engram singled to center to lead off the bottom of the 12thh and Kerri Foster put down a sac bunt. Beth Mullins then drilled a long drive to left field to drive in Engram with the winning run.

Bohnenstiehl went five innings and struck out six while Hubert scattered five hits over 6.1 innings. UAB starter Kelli Thompson sent six innings and allowed seven hits while Kerri Foster struck out four in six innings of work. The Billikens out-hit the Blazers 12-7 and did not commit an error. Kalee Reichert led the Bills with three hits on the evening.