April 28, 2002

Final Stats

Tampa, Fla. - The South Florida Bulls tallied three runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to down the Saint Louis Billikens 7-6 in a thrilling Conference USA softball contest in Tampa. The rally occurred after the Billikens took a 6-4 lead in the top of the inning when Janet Venorsky launched a two-run homer to push the Billikens into the lead.

The score was tied 4-4 after six innings and neither team had runner reach base until the ninth. South Florida loaded the bases with two outs but the Billikens prevented the Bulls from scoring. In the top of the 10th, starting pitcher Nicole Bohnenstiehl singled to right to leadoff. Cori Bittick came on as a pinch runner and she took second on Adrie Bogaars' groundout. Venorsky then launched her fifth home run of the season to give the Billikens a 6-4 lead. In the bottom of the 10th, Shelly Riker singled to begin the rally. Bohnenstiehl got Carmela Liwag swinging for the first out. Riker took second on a wild pitch but Courtney Lewellen popped up for the second out of the inning. Holly Groves hit a ball back to the mound, but the throw to end the game was wild and put runners on the corners. Ginny Georgantas tripled to right to tie the game at 6-6. Renee Oursler beat out a bunt and Georgantas raced home for the game-winning run.

The game was a back-and-forth effort all game long. The Billikens took a 1-0 lead in the third, but USF tied it in the bottom of the inning. SLU took a 3-1 lead in the fifth, but the Bulls answered with three in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. The Billikens tied things up in the sixth when Erin Jeffery doubled in Adrienne May to make it 4-4 before the late-inning outbursts.

The game spoiled a strong effort by the Billikens, who out-hit the Bulls 11-8. Venorsky had two hits and drove in three, while Erin Jeffery accounted for three hits on the day. Beth Puttcamp singled twice and scored two times. Bohnenstiehl went the distance in the longest game for the Billikens this season. She struck out 12 hitters and allowed four earned runs. Katie Dugger went the last 1-1/3 innings and picked up the win.

The Billikens fall to 22-27 overall, 5-17 in Conference USA. South Florida improves to 23-30-1 overall, 8-10 in the league.