Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

HAMMOND, LA - Saint Louis was tagged with a 17-8 loss against Southeastern Louisiana in its first game on Sunday at the Lion Softball Scramble at North Oak Park. The Lions (8-2) unloaded for 17 runs on 18 hits in a game that ended in the bottom of the sixth inning. Despite the defeat, senior outfielder Jill Pursell scored a school-record four runs in the outing, and senior infielder Christy Ernst continued her strong start to the season after a 2-for-3, three RBI day at the plate.

For the second game in a row, Saint Louis managed to get on top early. Pursell led off with an infield single, then advanced to second on sophomore Rachel Heet's sacrifice bunt. Ernst later drove in Pursell with a rope to left center field to give the Billikens the early advantage.

SLU's lead was short-lived, however, as the Lions proceeded to score early and often. In their half of the first, the Lions knocked SLU starter Lorena Floccari out of the game after just 1/3 of an inning. Floccari was doomed by two walks, two wild pitches and a three-run home run by Brooke Lockhart. Ashley Levan came on in releif and retired the two hitters she faced, but the damage was already done as Southeastern built a 5-1 lead through one inning.

The Lions tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second before SLU managed to push some runs across in the top of the third. Once again, it was Pursell who started the rally after a one-out walk. Freshman Nicki Jost singled to right field, and smartly advanced to second when the throw went to third. Ernst then ripped a two-out single to plate both Pursell and Jost and cut SLU's deficit to 7-3.

Any momentum the Billikens were carrying was dropped when they again fell victim to the long ball. Arica Rodriguez lifted a two-run shot over the left centerfield fence. In doing so, the Lions stretched their lead to 9-3 through three innings of play.

In the top of the fourth, the Billikens took advantage of three Lion errors to plate four runs and pull back to within three. Sophomore Annie Dillinger led off the inning with a double to right center, and came around to score on a catchers throwing error after stealing third. Senior catcher Jenna Renner walked, then was pinch-ran for by junior Jess Burns. Freshman Rachel O'Connell and Pursell reached on consecutive errors, and Burns was able to score during the flurry of defensive miscues. Still capitalizing on Southeastern Louisiana's mistakes, O'Connell came around to score on a wild pitch. Jost drove in Pursell with a single to complete the Billikens four-run fourth inning.

Southeastern Louisiana's offense was not phased, as it rebounded to score five runs over the next two innings off of SLU reliever Rosie Gonzalez.

The Billikens managed to plate another run in the top of the sixth. Pursell reached on a fielder's choice, then came around to score on freshman Brittney Schmidt's double. It was Pursell's school-record fourth run of the game. The previous record of three runs scored was matched numerous times, including last season by Pursell.