Billikens Split Doubleheader Against Liberty
March 17, 2008
ST. LOUIS - The Saint Louis softball team began its second day of competition at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla., with a 1-0 win over Liberty for its first consecutive wins of the season. But in game two, the Billikens failed to produce with runners in scoring position en route to a 3-0 loss. With one out in the bottom of the second, the Flames (3-19-1) put together back-to-back singles but SLU starter Lorena Floccari held off Liberty by striking out the ensuing batter and inducing a groundout to leave both runners stranded. The Bills put together a similar threat the following half inning. Allison Hopke started the third-inning rally with a single down the left-field line, and Rachel O'Connell promptly put her in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Caitlin Trevillyan gave SLU runners on the corners after reaching on a bunt single. But both runners were stranded as Liberty tagged Hopke out at the plate on a fielder's choice back to the pitcher and starter Sarah Ellis (1-10) got a groundout to escape the jam. SLU (7-13) broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth. Once again it was Hopke that got the Billiken bats going with a leadoff single to center field. With one out, Trevillyan singled to left field and Heet added a double to left center to drive in Hopke and put the Bills up 1-0. Liberty recorded consecutive one-out singles in the bottom of the seventh but SLU turned a double play to put an end to the threat and the game. Floccari (1-5) picked up her first win of the season after scattering nine hits and one walk while fanning a season-high six in the complete-game effort. The victory, also SLU's first shutout win of the season, moves her into a tie for third on SLU's career wins list with 30. She stranded nine Flames on the base paths.
Freshmen came through with six of the Billikens' seven hits in the opening game. Hopke led the way with a 3-for-3 effort and scored the game-winning run. Trevillyan contributed two hits and Kristin Nicoletti one while Heet, a junior, had the Billikens other hit and their lone RBI. Game two included numerous missed opportunities as the Billikens left six runners stranded for the second straight contest. In the bottom of the first, Nicki Jost doubled with two outs and moved to third on a wild pitch. But she remained at the hot corner as Liberty starter Dana Wheeler (2-4) fanned the next Billiken batter to get out of the inning. With two outs in the top of the second, the Flames put a runner on courtesy of a Billiken error. They took advantage of the situation by getting two straight singles to push the unearned run across for a 1-0 edge. After allowing a leadoff single in the top of the third, Billiken starter Stacy Gillette surrendered a two-run home run as the Flames took a 3-0 lead, which held for the final margin. The Bills put runners on in the next three innings but were unable to capitalize. They left three runners on in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in sixth. Jost led the offense in the nightcap with three hits while Katie Johns and Nicoletti each added a single. Gillette (1-5) shouldered the loss, giving up seven hits, one walk and three runs (two earned) in five frames while striking out two. Erin Kelly tossed two innings of no-hit relief, fanning three and allowing one base on balls. |
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