Salukis Set to Square off Against Billikens
04/16/2001 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 28, 2001
Salukis Set to Square Off Against Billikens . . . Southern Illinois, who has won 16 of its last 21 games, will return to non-conference action on Thursday, Mar. 29, when the Salukis head to St. Louis, Mo., to take on Saint Louis University in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. The Salukis enter Thursday's duel sporting an overall record of 17-9 while the Billikens stand at 14-11.
The Third is the Word . . . Coming off a 2-1 series win over the University of Northern Iowa this past weekend, SIU currently stands in third place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 5-1 league mark. Winning their first two three-game series' in MVC play this season, the Salukis rank behind Evansville (5-1) and league leading Illinois State (3-0).
Road Warriors . . . SIU will look to build on its 3-1 road record in Thursday's twin bill against Saint Louis University. Holding a commanding 25-1 series lead over SLU, Southern Illinois has defeated the Billikens 15 straight times dating back to April 22, 1992 when the Dawgs last lost by a score of 1-0.
Baker's Dozen . . . Although it hasn't seemed like it at certain times this season, SIU currently leads its opponents in 13 offensive categories. Batting .214 to its opponents' .191, the Salukis lead their foes in runs (68-44), hits (138-129), triples (3-1), home runs (9-7), RBI (51-34), total bases (187-170), slugging percentage (.290-.251), bases on balls (68-24), on-base percentage (.297-.225), sacrifice flies (3-2), sacrifice hits (33-16), and stolen bases (28-24).
How Low Can You Go? . . . For the fifth week in a row Erin Stremsterfer has seen her earned run average decrease as it now stands at an incredible 0.36 on the year. After ranking as high as 0.71 following SIU's trip to New Mexico (Feb. 23-25), Stremsterfer has seen her numbers drop to 0.52 (Mar. 15), 0.45 (Mar. 19), and 0.41 (Mar. 23) before finally falling to 0.36 after SIU's 2-1 series win over Northern Iowa this past weekend.
Gimme' Five, Stremsterfer Does it Again . . . SIU ace pitcher Erin Stremsterfer was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week for the fifth consecutive time this season, announced Monday, Mar. 26. For Stremsterfer, it was the 11th time in her career winning the award as she ranks as the only league player in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference to be named Pitcher of the Week on five straight occasions. The closest to Stremsterfer's remarkable span was a streak of three weeks in a row last done by Southwest Missouri State's Nora Cagwin on Feb. 22-Mar. 8, 1999. In SIU's five games last week, Stremsterfer went 3-0 and did not allow an earned run. She threw 22.2 innings over the span and recorded 36 strikeouts which included a career high 16 in the Salukis' series opener with the Panthers (Mar. 24).
You Gotta Earn It . . . Erin Stremsterfer has pitched a remarkable 60.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. The last time Stremsterfer was touched for an earned run was when San Jose State scored in the fourth inning of SIU's 2-1 win over the Spartans on March 10.
Punch 'Em Out . . . Pitching sensation Erin Stremsterfer has been seemingly unstoppable inside the circle in SIU's first 26 games this season. Throwing six shutouts and picking up two saves while pitching 12 complete games, the Manchester, Mo., native leads SIU in whiffs with 168 on the year. Of those 168 Ks, Stremsterfer has caught an impressive 50 of her batters looking on strikes.
It's Outta Here . . . Five Saluki players have combined to hit nine home runs in SIU's first 26 games this season. Led by Erin Stremsterfer's three, Amanda Rexroat and Jen Guenther follow with two, while Elissa Hopkins, and Netty Hallahan each have one. In addition, all but two of the long balls have been hit at IAW Fields.
Sister to Sister . . . Between sisters Adie (C) and Haley Viefhaus (SS) the two have hooked up to peg runners trying to steal on four occasions this season. A. Viefhaus' four pickoffs combine with Karrie Forman's six as SIU catchers have allowed just 24 stolen bases in 34 attempts this season.
About the Billikens . . . Saint Louis University, currently on a two-game losing streak, is 14-11 overall this season. The Billikens are led by Nicole Bohnenstiehl who is batting .333 with eight doubles, one home run, and eight RBI. Erin Jeffrey follows hitting .306 on the year with 11 runs scored and seven RBI. Adrie Bogaars then rounds out the triple threat batting over .300 with her .303 average which includes 20 hits and a team leading 10 RBI. Bohnenstiehl, who also pitches, is 10-4 on the year as well with a team leading 133 strikeouts.
Battle of the Double Threats . . . SIU's doubleheader with Saint Louis University Thursday could prove to be exciting in more mays than one as double threats Erin Stremsterfer and Nicole Bohnenstiehl go head-to-head. Bohnenstiehl, a sophomore from Lebanon, Ill., is both the Billikens' leading hitter batting .333 and leading pitcher sporting an ERA of 1.20. In 14 appearances on the mound, Bohnenstiehl is 10-4 with five shutouts and 133 strikeouts in 93.2 innings pitched. Although her offensive stats don't quite match up to Bohnenstiehl's, Stremsterfer's strength this season has definitely been on the mound where she has been seemingly untouchable. Sporting an overall record of 13-2 which includes an ERA of 0.36, Stremsterfer is the Valley's leader in strikeouts with 168 whiffs on the year. In addition, she has thrown 60.1 straight innings without allowing an earned run. Should be a solid matchup indeed.
Stremsterfer Hits Career High . . . Erin Stremsterfer struck out a career high 16 batters to lead Southern Illinois to a 2-1 win over Northern Iowa (Mar. 24). Fanning seven of her first 12 batters en route to her career afternoon, Stremsterfer stands at 13-2 this season winning 13 of her last 14 starts.
Out Walkin' Around. . . . Batting .200 with one double, one triple, one home run, and two RBI, senior Netty Hallahan currently leads the Salukis in walks this season with a total of 19. Hallahan, who walked four straight times in SIU's series with Drake (3/17-18), also boasts an on-base percentage of .413.
Guenther Comes up Big . . . Junior leftfielder Jen Guenther hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to lift Southern Illinois to a 4-0 win over Northern Iowa (Mar. 25) as the Salukis went on to win the series with the Panthers by a count of 2-1. Guenther's blast, which marked the second of the season, barely made it inside the foul pole down the left field line as the shutout marked SIU's ninth of the season.
Multiple Hit Personalities . . . Six different Salukis have scattered two or more hits in at least two games this season. Amanda Rexroat leads the pack smacking two or more hits in seven games this season while Marta Viefhaus is second with five multiple hit games. Jen Guenther and Julie Meier then follow with three multi-hit performances while Erin Stremsterfer and Kendra Moore round out the six-pack with two.
One, Two, Three Strikes You're Out . . . Ace righthanded pitcher Erin Stremsterfer is the Dawgs' strikeout leader with 168 whiffs this season. Sporting an ERA of 0.36, Stremsterfer has allowed 63 hits while being touched for just six earned runs in 115.2 innings pitched. Winning 13 out of her last 14 starts, Stremsterfer stands at 13-2 on the year as her 561 career strikeouts currently rank second behind Carisa Winters' 896 (1997-00) on the school's all-time list.
Simply Perfecto . . . Senior third baseman Julie Meier, the team's leader in doubles (11) last season, is the only Saluki on this year's roster that has started every game of her career. Since joining SIU in 1998, Meier has made 177-of-177 starts as her streak is still going.
Terror on the Basepaths . . . In 26 games this season, SIU has been hard for opponents to handle on the basepaths as the Salukis have stolen 28 bases in 32 attempts. Spearheaded by Marta Viefhaus' perfect 9-of-9 effort and Erin Stremsterfer's 6-of-8 mark, the Salukis have thieved at least one bag in all but eight games this season.
SIU Pitching Dominating the Valley . . . Through March 25, Southern Illinois stands atop the Missouri Valley Conference in team pitching as the Salukis lead with a 1.20 ERA. Posting a 17-9 record as a team, SIU pitchers have combined for 197 strikeouts in 181.0 innings pitched while picking up three saves and being touched for 31 earned runs. Paced by Erin Stremsterfer (13-2), who is the Valley's current leader in strikeouts with 168, the Saluki hurlers have also allowed just 24 walks in 26 games.
Hallahan and Rexroat also Among League Leaders . . . Seniors Amanda Rexroat and Netty Hallahan currently rank among Missouri Valley Conference leaders. As of March 25, Rexroat ranks seventh in individual batting (.348) while Hallahan lists second in the league in runs scored (18).