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May 5, 2008

THIS WEEK: With a win over Dayton in the final conference series, Saint Louis qualified for its second straight Atlantic 10 Conference Softball Championship. In the opening round, the sixth-seeded Billikens (23-31-1, 11-9 A-10) will face third-seeded Charlotte (32-29, 12-8 A-10) on its home field on Wednesday, May 7, at 3 p.m. (CT) at the Phillips Sports Complex in Charlotte, N.C. Saint Louis, which is riding a season-best six-game winning streak, is 2-8 against the tournament field this season.

SOWING THE SEEDS: The 2008 tournament is comprised of the only six teams in the league to finish with records above .500. Massachusetts earned the top seed after putting together a 20-0 record in league play. St. Bonaventure earned the No. 2 seed after finishing 11-7, while Charlotte posted a 12-8 mark for the No. 3 seed. Fordham, Saint Joseph's and SLU each finished with 11-9 ledgers, with the Rams capturing the No. 4 seed and Saint Joe's claiming the No. 5 seed.

GAME ONE IMPLICATIONS: A SLU win in the opening round would result in a 3 p.m. (CT) game against second-seeded St. Bonaventure on Thursday, May 8. If the Billikens falter against the 49ers, they would face either fourth-seeded Fordham or fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's at 5 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday.

TOURNEY HISTORY: The Billikens made a statement last season in their first appearance at the A-10 Championship. As the third seed, SLU made it all the way to the title game before falling to UMass. The Bills went 3-2 in the tournament with wins over George Washington, Charlotte and Fordham and losses to Fordham and UMass. Rachel Heet and Ashley Levan were named to the All-Championship team.

SCOUTING THE 49ERS: Charlotte (32-29, 12-8 A-10) picked up a win in the regular-season finale against Saint Joseph's to snap a four-game losing skid. Freshman Whitney Williams leads three players hitting better than .300 with a .343 average. The 49ers are hitting .258 and score 3.5 runs per game. Freshman right-hander Katy Hackett (14-16) leads the squad with a 1.97 ERA, 38 appearances, 22 complete games, three saves, 206.0 innings pitched and 165 strikeouts. The Charlotte pitching staff has a 2.47 ERA and allows 3.1 runs per contest. Head coach Aimee DeVos is in her 14th season with a 333-430-2 career mark, all at Charlotte. The 49ers swept the Billikens this season, however, SLU leads the all-time series 16-12. Charlotte is 2-4 all-time in the A-10 Championship.

SCOUTING THE MINUTEWOMEN: Massachusetts (35-11, 20-0 A-10), which has captured 18 outright A-10 conference tournament titles, enters the tournament riding a 26-game win streak. The #20 Minutewomen have a powerful offensive lineup featuring six players hitting better than .300. Sophomore Jessica Serio leads the team with a .383 average and 13 doubles. UMass scores 5.4 runs per game and is hitting at a .301 clip. Sophomore right-hander Brandice Balschmiter (25-6), the reigning A-10 Pitcher of the Year, is the workhorse in the circle. She owns team bests of 35 appearances, 29 starts, 27 complete games, 16 shutouts, two saves, 211.2 innings pitched and 257 strikeouts. The pitching staff has a 0.96 ERA and gives up just 1.4 runs per contest. Head coach Elaine Sortino owns a 1,010-429-5 ledger in 29 seasons at UMass. The Minutewomen, who swept SLU this season, lead the all-time series 6-1. UMass is 65-14 all-time in the A-10 Championship.

SCOUTING THE BONNIES: St. Bonaventure (20-22, 11-7 A-10) wrapped up the regular season with losses in six of its last 10 games, including four in conference action. Senior Briana Bricker is the only regular starter hitting better than .300. She leads the squad with a .346 average, 47 hits, 30 runs and six home runs. The Bonnies hit at a .239 clip and score 3.0 runs per game. Sophomore Sherri Thompson (16-10) powers SBU with a 1.49 ERA, 31 appearances, 28 starts, 26 complete games, six shutouts, 202.2 innings pitched and 168 strikeouts. The pitching staff has a 2.39 ERA and gives up 3.2 runs per game. Head coach Mike Threehouse has a 12-year mark of 187-298 with the Bonnies. After splitting the regular-season series with St. Bonaventure, the all-time series is tied 3-3. The Bonnies are 2-4 all-time in the A-10 Championship.

SCOUTING THE RAMS: Fordham (33-28, 11-9 A-10) wrapped up the regular season with losses in four of its last six games. Junior Mary Beth Puccio leads six players hitting over .300 with a .346 average. The Rams are batting .299 and plate 5.0 runs per contest. Fordham's three pitchers each have at least 10 wins this season. Freshman righty Beckah Wiggins (12-11) leads the staff with 40 appearances, 24 starts, eight complete games, two shutouts and 146.1 innings pitched. The pitching staff boasts a 3.14 ERA and gives up 4.1 runs per game. Head coach Bridget Orchard is 233-173-1 in seven seasons at Fordham. The Rams, who swept the Bills earlier this season, lead the series 7-1. Fordham is 5-10 all-time in the A-10 Championship.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS: Saint Joseph's (18-21, 11-9 A-10) won six of its final eight games before dropping the season finale at Charlotte. Sophomore Brooke Darreff powers the offense with a .472 average, 51 hits and 31 RBIs. The Hawks are hitting .238 and score 3.4 runs per game. Junior right-hander Dani Gonzales (11-10) is the staff ace with a 1.61 ERA, 12 complete games, four shutouts, 139.0 inning pitched and 134 strikeouts. The pitching staff has a 2.06 ERA and allows 3.0 runs per contest. Head coach Terri Adams is 31-49 in two seasons at Saint Joseph's. The Hawks, who split the regular-season series with the Billikens, lead the series 7-5. Saint Joe's is 8-22 all-time in the A-10 Championship.

TOPPING 20: The Billikens' two wins at Western Illinois on April 29 gave them consecutive 20-win seasons for just the third time in school history. SLU's 2007 team set the standard with 29 victories. The 2008 Bills are just the sixth softball team in school history to achieve 20 wins. The 2001, 2002 and 2003 squads are the only other teams to reach the 20-win plateau in consecutive seasons with 25, 24 and 21 victories, respectively.

STREAKING SLU: Saint Louis has won six games in a row for the first time since the 2003 season. The longest winning streak in school history, which is seven games, was achieved by the 2002 (twice) and 2003 Billiken squads.

LEADERS OF THE PACK: In conference games through April 27, Saint Louis players lead the A-10 in two statistical categories. Kristin Nicoletti leads the conference with two triples, and Nicki Jost has a league-best 12 stolen bases. SLU has four of the top five base-stealers in the league with Nicoletti in second (11), Caitlin Trevillyan in third (10) and Rachel Heet in fifth (seven).

RANK AND FILE: According to the NCAA statistical rankings through games of April 27, the Billikens are 11th in the nation with 2.04 stolen bases per game. Individually, Kristin Nicoletti is 23rd with 0.55 thefts per game, while Nicki Jost is 46th with 0.42 per game.

BEEN CAUGHT STEALIN': With nine thefts in the Dayton series, SLU broke the school single-season stolen bases record. The 116 steals this season eclipses the standard of 107 set just last season. Earlier this year, freshman Kristin Nicoletti broke the school record for stolen bases in a game (four) and in a season. She has 33 thefts on the season.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Several players are steadily climbing the SLU single-season charts in various statistical categories. Rachel Heet's 32 RBIs are second, her 80 total bases tie for fourth and her 56 hits rank fourth. Kristin Nicoletti is first with 33 stolen bases and third with 32 runs, while Nicki Jost's 21 swipes tie for fourth and her 18 walks tie for 10th. Also, Caitlin Trevillyan is tied for seventh with 28 runs scored and tied for 10th with 18 walks, and Rachel O'Connell is tied for eighth with 19 walks. In terms of pitching, Stacy Gillette is third with 36 appearances, while Lorena Floccari and Erin Kelly are tied for fourth with 35 appearances apiece.

1-0-0 BARRIER: Earlier this season, junior Rachel Heet became the 16th member of SLU's 100-hit club. She is just the seventh Billiken to achieve the feat in less than three complete seasons. Her 117 hits rank 12th on the career list.

ROOKIES ALL AROUND: Saint Louis' mainstays in the outfield this season have been freshmen. Head coach John Conway has started an all-freshman outfield in 36 of the last 38 games. Kristin Nicoletti leads the rookies with 45 starts, while Allison Hopke trails with 43 and Caitlin Trevillyan has 38.

THE HEET IS ON: When SLU has needed a big hit this season, Rachel Heet has been the one to come through with it. Eighteen of Heet's team-high 32 RBIs, which tie the SLU standard for juniors, have come with two outs. She also has 23 two-out hits for a .404 average with two down.

HEAD OF THE CLASS: Pitcher Lorena Floccari was selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The accolade, which is presented annually to NCAA Division I student-athletes in eight sports, focuses on the "Four C's" of classroom, character, community and competition.

RECORD ROMP: In the second win over George Washington on March 22, Saint Louis broke the program record for home runs in a game (3), while three single-game records were tied during the performance. Caitlin Trevillyan tied the standard for home runs (2) and RBIs (4) in a game, and Rachel Heet also posted four RBIs in the victory.

A WALK IN THE PARK: Saint Louis tied the school record for walks in a game twice this season with nine against Northern Illinois and Florida Atlantic. The standard was established last season against Bucknell. Rookie Caitlin Trevillyan also tied the single-game mark for an individual player with three free passes against NIU. With 134 free passes this season, SLU needs just two more walks to tie the school record of 136 established last season.

LET IT FLO: Senior Lorena Floccari continues to move up the program's career charts in various statistical categories. She is the Billikens' career leader in saves (7), appearances (143), starts (99) and innings pitched (636.2). Floccari is second in wins (36), third in shutouts (8) and fourth in complete games (54) and strikeouts (414).

OTHER CAREER CLIMBERS: Sophomore Nicki Jost is tied for fourth on the home runs list with eight, her 38 stolen bases rank fifth, her 22 doubles tie for seventh and she ranks ninth with 471 putouts. Junior Rachel Heet is tied for fifth with six triples, ranks sixth with 60 RBIs, is tied for seventh with 61 runs scored and is tied for 10th with 19 doubles. Sophomore Rachel O'Connell's 40 walks rank seventh on the career list, and her 15 sac bunts tie for 10th. Sophomore Brittney Schmidt is also tied for 10th with 15 sac bunts. Freshman Kristin Nicoletti's 33 stolen bases rank seventh. Meanwhile, sophomore pitcher Stacy Gillette's 60 appearances rank sixth on the career chart, and her 130 strikeouts are ninth.

A SEASON TO REMEMBER: To say that the 2007 Saint Louis Billiken softball season was a success would be a huge understatement. Last season, first-year head coach John Conway led his team to a program-best 29 victories and its first appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship. The 2007 squad established team records in slugging percentage, games played, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, total bases, walks, stolen bases, innings pitched, pitching strikeouts and putouts.

COACH John Conway: Head coach John Conway is in his second season as the Billiken skipper after leading Saint Louis to a program-best 29 wins in his first year. Conway, who came to SLU after four seasons as head coach at Division III Fontbonne, owns a 167-115-1 career record and a 50-64-1 mark with the Billikens. His staff is comprised of assistant coach Bill Rosner, pitching coach Russell Cooper, volunteer assistant Dr. Terry Moore and graduate assistant Kendra McNichols.

SISTER KRISTAIN: Freshman infielder Kristain Burger (Chaffee, Mo. / Notre Dame) started both Dayton tilts at third base.

PHOTO FINN-ISH: Sophomore pitcher/infielder Morgan Finn (Ogden, Ill. / Lake Land College) did not play at Dayton.

EBB AND FLO: Senior pitcher Lorena Floccari (Tallmadge, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) leads the team with a 3.14 ERA and 145.0 innings pitched ... is tied for the team lead with 25 starts ... earned a save after striking out one in the final inning of the second Dayton game ... recorded the win in the first game against the Flyers after fanning six and giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits in the first five innings.

CLOSE SHAVES: Sophomore pitcher Stacy Gillette (Palatine, Ill. / William Fremd) leads the pitching staff with 100 strikeouts and 36 appearances ... is tied for the team lead with 25 starts ... threw an inning of relief in the first Dayton contest but was knocked out of the game early due to injury ... allowed two unearned runs on four hits while striking out one.

TURN UP THE HEET: Junior infielder Rachel Heet (St. Louis, Mo. / Mehlville) leads the team with a .346 average, a .494 slugging percentage, a .390 on-base percentage, 56 hits, 32 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples, 14 multi-hit games and nine multiple-RBI games ... is tied for the team lead with three home runs ... is riding a three-game hitting streak ... was hit by a pitch and went 2-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in the second Dayton victory ... tallied two hits, two runs and a stolen base in the first game against the Flyers.

IT'S HERBIE HANCOCK: Senior infielder Jody Herbert (Moline, Ill. / Alleman Catholic) posted two walks, a hit, a run scored and a stolen base as a sub in the second Dayton game ... drew a walk and stole a base as a pinch hitter in the game-one victory.

TORA, TORA, TORI: Freshman outfielder Tori Holland (Columbia, Mo. / Hallsville) did not play at Dayton due to injury.

HIPPITY HOP-KE: Freshman outfielder Allison Hopke (Vandalia, Mo. / Van-Far) went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, two doubles, a run scored and a stolen base in the opening game at Dayton.

JOHNNIE ON THE SPOT: Junior catcher/first baseman Katie Johns (The Dalles, Ore. / Wash U) is riding a three-game hitting streak ... had an RBI double in the second win at Dayton ... tied the school record with four RBIs in the first UD contest, also recorded two hits, two runs, a home run and a walk.

JOST IN THE NICK OF TIME: Sophomore catcher/outfielder Nicki Jost (St. Louis, Mo. / Oakville) is tied for the team lead with three home runs ... had a two-run double, a walk and a run scored in the second Dayton victory.

KELLY GREEN: Freshman pitcher Erin Kelly (River Forest, Ill. / Fenwick) has a team-best 10 wins ... is one of the current A-10 co-Rookies of the Week ... picked up the second Dayton win, scattering eight hits and three strikeouts for one run in the first six innings ... tossed an inning of relief in the first game against the Flyers, allowing one unearned run on two hits and a strikeout.

NICOL AND DIME: Freshman outfielder Kristin Nicoletti (St. Louis, Mo. / Oakville) leads SLU with 32 runs scored and 33 stolen bases ... posted a sac bunt, a stolen base and a run in the second Dayton tilt ... swiped two bases, walked, scored and had a hit in the first win over the Flyers.

THE O.C.: Sophomore infielder Rachel O'Connell (Arlington Heights, Ill. / Hinsdale Central) leads the team with 19 walks ... drew a walk in the first Dayton game ... went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a free pass in the opening win over the Flyers.

OKEE DOKEE: Freshman outfielder Keri O'Keefe (Tremont, Ill. / Tremont) entered both Dayton games as a sub in the outfield.

POL POSITION: Freshman outfielder Jenna Polacek (Omaha, Neb. / Marian) did not play at Dayton.

I WANNA BE RICH: Sophomore utility player Shana Richard (Hoyleton, Ill. / Nashville) did not play at Dayton.

JUST A LITTLE BRIT: Sophomore infielder Brittney Schmidt (Columbia, Ill. / Columbia) has a team-best 10 sac bunts ... walked twice and stole a base in the second Dayton game ... put down two sac bunts in the first win over the Flyers.

CT SCAN: Freshman utility player Caitlin Trevillyan (Grayslake, Ill. / Carmel) is tied for the team lead with three home runs ... had a hit in the second Dayton tilt before leaving the game due to injury ... posted an RBI single, a walk and a run scored in the first UD victory.

Saint Louis Billikens Softball

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