Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Saint Louis
Salukis Sweep Billikens
04/16/2001 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 29, 2001
St. Louis, Mo. - Erin Stremsterfer hit a game-winning single in the top of the ninth inning while striking out 12 batters in the first game to help lead Southern Illinois University to a two-game sweep over Saint Louis University winning 2-0 (9), 8-0, Thursday at Billiken Sports Center.
The pair of wins improved the Salukis' winning streak over the Billikens to 17 games as the overall series now stands at 27-1 in SIU's favor.
It was a pitcher's duel in the opening game of the twin bill as SIU's Stremsterfer (12) and SLU's Nicole Bohnenstiehl (11) combined for 23 strikeouts which spanned over the nine frames. Both hurlers also went back-and-forth to throw eight consecutive scoreless innings. Bohnenstiehl, who had a no-hitter through 6.1 innings, was finally touched for a hit when Julie Meier singled to left in the top of the seventh. After seven complete innings of regulation play, both teams headed into the international tiebreaker looking to end the scoreless drought which indeed belonged to the pitchers. After both teams failed on their attempts to score in the eighth, Haley Viefhaus was automatically placed on second to give the Salukis a start in the top half of the ninth. With Viefhaus on second, Tahira Saafir put down a pinch hit bunt single to advance Viefhaus to third. Following a Jen Guenther pop up to short, Stremsterfer then dug in and ripped a single to center to bring home Viefhaus. Rexroat, who re-entered the game for Saafir, also came home on the play after a throw from SLU centerfielder Erin Jeffrey skipped by the catcher giving the Dawgs the 2-0 win.
Stremsterfer's single marked the second time this season she has hit a game-winner in extra innings. The win also improved her record on the mound to 14-2 as she has now earned her last 14 of 15 pitching decisions.
SIU's bats caught fire in the nightcap as the Salukis erupted to a pair of three-run rallies to open both the second and fifth innings. Marta Viefhaus led off the second with a walk and was quickly on third after stealing two straight bases. Meier then belted a single to left to drive home Viefhaus giving the Dawgs a 1-0 lead. Meier, who reached second on a SAC by Karrie Fortman and third on a wild pitch then scored on a single by Adie Viefhaus. With Viefhaus on first, Netty Hallahan delivered a triple to left center and just like that, it was 3-0 SIU.
A. Viefhaus singled again to start things off in the fifth and was later knocked in by sister Haley to make it 4-0. Following a Rexroat strikeout, Stremsterfer delivered a two-out single to bring home H. Viefhaus who was on third after a SAC by Hallhan. Still not finished, Elissa Hopkins blasted a triple to right allowing Stremsterfer to cross as the Saluki route increased to 6-0.
With no out in the seventh, Hallahan walked and was moved to third on a double by H. Viefhaus. An error by third baseman Adrie Bogaars then scored Hallahan and two batters later, a Hopkins groudout to third then sent home Viefhaus to cap off the 8-0 bashing.
A. Viefhaus was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI as her pair of hits snapped a 0-for-24 drought at the plate. Sister Haley also paced the Dawgs offensively with a 2-for-4 effort which included a double, two runs scored, and two RBI. Stremsterfer then rounded out the top three performances at the plate with a 2-for-3 showing. Katie Kloess went the distance on the hill to even her record to 4-4 on the year. In seven innings pitched, Kloess struck out four batters while being touched for just two hits.
SIU, now 19-9, will return home to host Wichita State in a three-game series on Saturday-Sunday, Mar. 31-Apr. 1. On Saturday, the Dawgs will tangle with the Shockers in a doubleheader beginning at noon before the series will close out with a single game on Sunday which is also at noon.
