April 21, 2006
Box Score
St. Louis - Saint Louis was swept by the visiting Rhode Island Rams in an Atlantic 10 Conference softball doubleheader Friday afternoon at the Billiken Sports Center. URI claimed the first game of the series by a score of 3-2, and took the nightcap by a 5-4 margin. The one-run losses are the 11th and 12th for the Billikens this season, the most in the history of the program.
SLU (15-26, 6-8 A-10) jumped out to a quick first inning lead in game one. Christy Ernst was the first base runner to reach after stroking a double to left center. After advancing to third on a passed ball, she came around to score on an Ashlee Heady sacrifice fly to give the Bills the early 1-0 edge.
URI (17-20, 7-7 A-10) countered with two runs in the top of the second thanks to a Danielle Quimbly two-run single. In the third, Courtney Wall scored what later proved to be the game-winning run when she blasted a pitch over the centerfield fence.
Kara Sell became SLU's all-time single season leader in home runs after blasting her seventh homer of the year to lead off the seventh inning and cut the URI lead to 2-1. But that is all the Billikens would get off of URI starter Katie Halcomb, who went the distance allowing one earned run on four hits.
Ashley Levan was tagged with the loss in the circle for SLU after allowing three runs on eight hits. She struck out eight and walked none.
As they did in the first game, the Billikens jumped out to an early lead in the second.
AshLeigh Williams blasted a two-run double in the third inning that plated Jill Pursell and Heady and gave the Bills a 2-0 lead. Williams now stands at 69 career RBI, which ties her with Bohnenstiehl for the most all time. She is also just two RBI shy of passing Bohnensiehl for the single-season lead.
But a resilient Rhode Island squad answered with a five-run fifth, highlighted by two-run singles from Quimby and Wall.
Down 5-2, SLU mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth. Jenna Renner singled, then advanced to third on a Sell double. Logan Justice then plated Renner and Sell with on a scorching double to left center to pull the Billikens to within one. But URI starter Halcomb retired the Bills in order in the bottom of the seventh secure her second win of the day in the circle.
Floccari pitched all seven innings for SLU, allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out six.
The Billikens will try to shake a season-long eight-game losing skid when they entertain Massachussetts on Sunday at the Billiken Sports Center. SLU's three seniors - Ashlee Heady, AshLeigh Williams - will be honored in a pre-game ceremony 20 minutes prior to the noon first pitch.
