March 10, 2006

Box Score

Birmingham, Ala. - Saint Louis couldn't rebound from an early 3-0 deficit and fell to Samford 3-2 on Friday in the Alabama Central Credit Union Bulldog Bash at Bulldog Field. SLU (2-6), which topped Louisiana-Monroe earlier in the day, managed only four hits in the game and committed a costly error which led to a two-run third inning for Samford (7-18).

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second after Meghan Wagner's infield single drove home Jenna Dempski. Rachael Reves reached on an error to lead off the third inning, which led to the Bulldogs scoring two unearned runs. Dempski lined an RBI double to plate Reeves, and the Bulldogs added the eventual game-winning run on a Jesyln Metcalf infield single.

SLU capitalized on three-straight Samford errors in the bottom of the fourth to pull within one. The Billikens loaded the bases after Logan Justice, Lorena Floccari and Kara Sell all reached on Bulldog miscues. After Kara Sell fouled out to third base for the second out of the inning, Rachel Heet stroked a two-run single to left center for the first RBIs of her career.

But that is all the offense SLU would manage as Samford starting pitcher Susana Meyer retired the Billikens in order in the last three innings of the game.

Floccari was tagged with the loss for the Bills despite pitching all seven innings and allowing one earned run on nine hits. She struck out five and walked only one.

Jill Pursell continued her hot hitting with a single in the third inning. She has hit safely in a team-high four straight games.

SLU returns to action at the Bulldog Bash on Sat., Mar. 11, against Siena. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.