March 24, 2006
Box Score
Philadelphia - Saint Louis centerfielder Kara Sell set career highs with two home runs and four RBI to lead the Billikens to a 5-4 victory over Temple on Friday in the second game of a doubleheader at Ambler Field in Philadelphia. It is the first win for the Billikens in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The victory also salvaged a split in SLU's opening A-10 series, as the Owls claimed the first game of the twinbill by a 3-0 margin.
In game two of the doubleheader, Temple (5-13, 1-1 A-10) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
But SLU (8-13, 1-1 A-10), who managed only two hits in the first game of the twinbill, got some much needed offensive firepower from Sell.
She led off the third inning with a solo blast to knot the game at 1-1. With two runners on in the fourth, she hit a three-run shot to stretch the Billiken lead to 4-1.
Temple was able to pull within one run with a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth.
SLU plated what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the seventh. After a Jill Pursell single and Ashlee Heady walk, AshLeigh Williams poked a single to plate Pursell and give the Billikens a 5-3 lead.
That run proved beneficial as Temple was able to drive in a run in the bottom of the seventh to pull within one, but SLU starter Ashley Levan was able to pitch through some adversity in the late innings to preserve the win for the Billikens.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Pursell and Lorena Floccari were the only Billikens to manage hits off of Temple starter Burdeaux. Levan, who came on in relief for the Billikens, struck out eight Owls in 4-1/3 innings for the Bills.
Saint Louis stays in Philadelphia for a Sunday, Mar. 27, doubleheader with Saint Joseph's. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. (CT).