April 7, 2006

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

Bronx, N.Y. - Saint Louis couldn't capitalize on early leads and dropped both games of a doubleheader against Fordham in Atlantic 10 Conference softball action on Friday at Bahoshy Field in Bronx, N.Y. Despite jumping ahead 2-0 in the first inning of both games, SLU fell 5-3 in the first game then lost the nightcap 12-3. In game one, AshLeigh Williams cranked her sixth home run of the season and the 14th of her career, which ties her with Nichole Bohnenstiehl for SLU's all-time lead.

Williams' record-tying home run came at an opportune time for the Billikens (13-18, 4-4 A-10). After Christy Ernst reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, Williams sent a ball over the leftfield fence to give the Bills an early 2-0 lead. Williams' home run, her sixth of the season, also ties for the single-season lead, which she accomplished in 2004.

Fordham (21-15, 6-2 A-10) answered quickly in its half of the first. Krystle Henry led off with a walk, then advanced on an Allison Twarowski single. Both players were then driven home on back-to-back doubles from Laura Klaiber and Katie Davis to give the Rams a 3-2 lead. Gina Capardi made it 4-2 when she drove home Davis on a single up the middle.

SLU had the bases loaded in the top of third but couldn't capitalize off of Fordham hurler Sara Kinney. With two outs, Williams and Logan Justice singled and Lorena Floccari walked to juice the bases, but Kinney got Kara Sell to pop up to third to end the threat.

SLU's pulled to within one in the fifth. Ashlee Heady walked and advanced to third on a Williams double. Heady came around to score on a Justice RBI groundout, but Williams was stranded at third when Floccari flied out to right field.

The Billikens stranded another runner at third base in the top of the sixth, and Fordham scored an insurance run in bottom of the inning for the 5-3 win.

Overall, Williams went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and one run scored. Ashlee Levan was tagged with the loss for SLU after giving up five runs on seven hits. She struckout eight and walked only one in the contest.

In game two, SLU again jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a little help from the long ball when Jill Pursell led of the game with her first-career home run. Ernst followed with a walk, then was driven home on a Heady double to give the Billikens a 2-0 lead after only three batters.

But Fordham pitcher Rachael Wiggins settled down and only allowed three hits an one run the rest of the way. The one run she allowed came courtesy of a Heady solo shot in the fifth for her second home run of the season.

Fordham utilized a seven-run third inning to put the game out of reach for the Billikens. Twarowski and Klaiber both homered off of SLU reliever Erica May in the bottom of the sixth to clinch a 12-3 win for Fordham via the eight-run rule.

Floccari started in the circle for SLU and went three innings, allowing nine runs - only three earned - on eight hits.

SLU will look to regroup as it faces A-10 foe La Salle on Sun., Apr. 9, in Philadelphia. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 11 a.m. (CT).