March 26, 2003

Final Stats

St. Louis - The Saint Louis University softball team tied a school record with their seventh straight win, and in the process, defeated a ranked team for the first time in the program's history. The Billikens downed No. 9 DePaul 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader at The Billiken Sports Center. In game two, DePaul rallied for a 9-4 win to earn a split.

In the bottom of the first in game one, leadoff hitter Melissa Quist reached on a bunt single. Kerri Higgins put down a sac bunt to move Quist up a base. Starting pitcher Nicole Bohnenstiehl lashed a double to left center to put the Billikens up 1-0. In the top of the fifth, DePaul's Gina Ramacci reached on an error with two out. Dana Kenney singled sharply to centerfield, but SLU's Adrienne may gathered the ball and threw out pinch runner Ashley Parker at third to preserve the Billiken lead. Liz Bouck singled to lead of the sixth for DePaul and took second on a sac bunt. But, she was stranded there to end the inning. Saskia Roberson doubled with one out in the seventh inning, but Bohnenstiehl struck out Christina Douglas for the second out. Bohnenstiehl then induced a harmless popup to SLU first baseman Beth Yagge to end the upset. The Billikens had been 0-10 all-time against ranked teams before defeating the Blue Demons. No. 9 DePaul was also the highest ranked opponent SLU has ever played. Bohnenstiehl tossed her 14th career shutout, surpassing the previous record of 13 set by Mikki McPherson. She had five strikeouts without a walk and picked up the win to improve to 5-3 on the season.

In game two, DePaul took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Billikens bounced back to take the lead. Melissa Quist bunted for a single, and Nicole Bohnenstiehl tied a SLU record with her 10th career home run to boost the Billikens to a 2-1 lead. The Bills tacked on two more runs in the second as Beth Yagge had RBI singles. However, DePaul exploded with eight runs on five hits in the top of the third to take command. Dana Kenny singled to leadoff the inning, and after two walks, Katy Kukman plated two with a single. Gina Ramacci followed with another two-run single. After another walk and single, Kenny drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run. Sarah Martz then cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line as the Blue Demons went on for the 9-4 win. Martz went the distance for her sixth win of the year.

Saint Louis is now 7-6 overall, 4-4 in Conference USA.. DePaul is 17-4, 4-1 in C-USA. The teams play a single game on Thu., March 27, at Noon, at The Billiken Sports Center.