Feb. 17, 2007

Box Score

HAMMOND, LA - Playing in its season opener, Saint Louis softball dropped its first three outings at the Lion Softball Scramble on Saturday. The Billikens, who debuted today after a preseason full of indoor practices, opened with an extra-inning 5-3 loss to host Southeastern Louisiana. Indiana State then topped the Bills 6-1, and Ball State got the better of SLU 8-5 in Saturday's finale.

Against Southeast Louisiana, SLU dug out of an early two-run deficit and sent the game into extra innings with some freshman heroics. Down two in the bottom of the seventh, seniors Jill Pursell and Christy Ernst both reached base with no one out. Freshman Kinsley Kelley scorched a triple, the first hit of her collegiate career, to clear the bases and send the game into extra innings. But a two-run home run from Southeastern Louisiana's Brooke Lockhart sealed the win for the Lions.

After falling to the Sycamores in their second game, the Billikens looked to be in control in Saturday's final game against Ball State. SLU built a 3-0 lead in the third inning, but the Cardinals hammered away at the deficit and eventually staked the 8-5 win.

Despite the loss against Ball State, the Billikens banged out 15 hits, which matched the season high for last year's club. Pursell and Ernst each had big days offensively for the Billikens, who return to action Sunday at 10 a.m. in a rematch with Southeastern Louisiana. SLU will play again at 12:30 p.m. against either Ball State or Indiana State.