March 1, 2006
Box Score
St. Louis - Eastern Illinois blanked Saint Louis in both games of a softball doubleheader Wednesday at The Billiken Sports Center. The Billikens, playing in their opening games of the season, neglected to push a run across the plate in the two-game set. EIU took the first game 1-0 and the nightcap 2-0.
Eastern Illinois' (6-5) Karyn Mackie got the best of a pitcher's dual in game one. She went all seven innings, scattering three hits and striking out six while issuing one walk. Meanwhile, Macki's counterpart Lorena Floccari kept the score knotted until the fifth inning. After retiring the first two hitters in the top half of the inning, Rachel Karos laced a double to right center. Katy Steele then plated Karos with a double of her own, giving EIU all it would need. SLU threatened in the bottom half of the sixth after Rachel Heet notched her first collegiate hit, but any chance at a rally was halted when she was caught trying to steal second.
Floccari was tagged with the loss after going all seven innings and allowing the lone run on eight hits. She fanned five EIU batters and walked one. Jill Pursell and Ashlee Heady both singled for the Billikens.
Early errors plagued the Billikens in the second game. After EIU's Sarah Coppert opened the game with a double, SLU's Jody Herbert committed two throwing errors from third base on consecutive plays which resulted in two runs.
Saint Louis let a chance slip away in the third inning. After three-straight singles from Allison Appenfeller, Ashley Levan and Heet, Pursell came to bat with the bases loaded and only one out. She lifted the ball to straight-away centerfield, but EIU's Chelsey Iapala corralled the ball and gunned down pinch-runner Jenna Renna at the plate for the inning-ending double play.
Ashley Levan was strong in the circle for the Billikens in the second game, allowing only three hits and posting four strikeouts.
Saint Louis (0-2) will travel to Springfield, Mo., for Missouri State's Classic for Breast Cancer. Saint Louis' first game in the two-day affair is a 3 p.m. tilt with Southeast Missouri on Sat., Mar. 4.
