March 14, 2007
Army Box Score | Yale Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Saint Louis routed Army 10-2 in six innings before dropping a 2-0 decision against Yale in day two of the Rebel Spring Games on Wednesday. The Bills (8-13) used a six-run fourth inning to oust Army in the first game, but SLU managed just four hits in the shutout loss to Yale in the nightcap.
Against Army, the Billikens broke a scoreless tie with an offensive outburst in the fourth. Freshman Nicki Jost, senior Christy Ernst and freshman Kinsley Kelley had consecutive singles to load the bases with no one out. Sophomore Annie Dillinger drew a walk to give the Billikens a 1-0 advantage. Then, senior Jenna Renner stroked a shot down the leftfield line for a two-run single and a 3-0 Billiken lead.
A pair of stolen bases and a walk led to another run for the Bills after senior Jill Pursell grounded out to score Dillinger. Renner came around on a passed ball, and sophomore Rachel Heet doubled in a run to stretch SLU's lead to 6-0. In all, the Billikens managed five hits in the six run inning.
The Bills made it 10-0 with a four-run sixth inning. Dillinger and Renner each singled, and freshman Rachel O'Connell walked to load the bases. The Billikens then took advantage of two Army defensive miscues to plate a total of four runs, all of them unearned, to take a commanding lead into the late innings.
SLU starter Ashley Levan's only blemish in the contest was a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth. Otherwise, she was solid in the circle, allowing just the two runs in six innings of work. She struck out three and walked none.
Yale scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings to secure a victory in a classic pitcher's duel. A pair of Bulldog hurlers allowed the Bills to reach base just four times. SLU didn't push a runner into scoring position until the bottom of the seventh when Ernst managed a double.
SLU starter Lorena Floccari pitched strong despite the loss. She went all seven innings and allowed two runs on eight hits while striking out four. Freshman DP Shana Richard poked two infield singles in the contest.
The Billikens return to action tomorrow in a 10 a.m. (CT) matchup with Mississippi Valley State. SLU then faces Columbia in a 2 p.m. (CT) start.
