May 2, 2006

Box Score

St. Louis - Saint Louis dropped a 6-2 decision to the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks in non-conference softball action Tuesday afternoon at The Billiken Sports Center. SLU's Christy Ernst tied a career-high with three hits and Ashlee Heady drove in two runs, but SLU committed four errors to account for six unearned runs for the Skyhawks.

The Billikens (18-32) struck first in the bottom of the first. Jill Pursell drew one of her three walks on the day, then advanced to second on an Ernst sacrifice bunt. After stealing third, Pursell came around to score when Heady ripped a single up the middle.

UT-Martin (33-23-1) answered by loading the bases in the top of the second following a walk, a single and an error. With no outs, SLU starter Ashley Levan managed to retire the next two batters, but Christy Webb's two-run single kept the inning alive. UT-Martin loaded the bases again after a Brittany Nash bunt single, and Brandy Whalen drove in another run before the Billikens got out of the inning.

Just as they did the inning before, the Skyhawks loaded the bases with none out in the top of the third. Fallon Lowery made it 4-1 Skyhawks on a single, and UT-Martin pushed across two more unearned runs before the inning was over to make it 6-1.

SLU managed a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth. Pursell walked, then advanced to third on Ernst's second double of the afternoon. Heady drove in Pursell with a shot through the right side to make it 6-2, but that is as close as the Billikens would get.

Levan was tagged with the loss after allowing eight hits in three innings. All six Skyhawk runs, however, were unearned. Lorena Floccari threw the final four innings a relief role and allowed only one hit and struck out three.

Kara Harper earned the win for the Skyhawks after going 6-1/3 innings and allowing one run on four hits while striking out five.

The Billikens close out its season on Sat., May 6, in an Atlantic 10 Conference doubleheader at Dayton. Game time is set for noon (CT).