March 16, 2007
Bucknell Box Score| Colgate Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Saint Louis picked up a pair of victories against Bucknell and Colgate on Friday in the final day of the Rebel Spring Games. The Billikens conluded their eight-game stint at the tournament with a 5-3 record, including wins in their last four games, to bring their overall record to 12-13.
Against Bucknell, the Billikens scored runs in each of the first three innings to open a 9-2 lead. Freshman Kinsley Kelley got it started with an RBI ground out in the first, scoring freshman Rachel Heet who singled and stole a base to advance into scoring position. Seniors Jill Pursell and Christy Ernst accounted for the two runs in the second, setting up a six-run third inning that allowed the Billikens took control for good.
Coming out of an hour-long rain delay, freshman Annie Dillinger led off with a single to center, then moved to third after swiping second and third base. Meanwhile, senior Jenna Renner reached on a single, and Dillinger and Renner both came around to score on a two-run single by senior Allison Appenfeller.
Junior Jill Pursell and Heet both reached to load the bases for Ernst. With two out, she put a ball in play that was bobbled by the Bucknell third baseman, resulting in an unearned run and a 6-2 Billiken lead. Kelley, freshman Brittney Schmidt and Dillinger all drew bases loaded walks for RBIs, helping SLU to its 9-2 lead after three.
After Bucknell plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull within four, the Bills answered with two runs in the top of the sixth. Freshman Rachel O'Connell plated a run on a fielder's choice, and Pursell lifted a sacrifice fly to plate another to help secure the 11-5 victory, SLU's third straight victory.
Junior pitcher Lorena Floccari earned her second-straight win after pitching five innings and allowing one earned run on eight hits. Junior Rosie Gonzalez worked two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out two.
Pursell, Ernst, Kelley and Appenfeller all posted two RBIs. Pursell and Heet had two hits apiece, while O'Connell and Heet both scored twice in the contest.
The Billikens' 11 runs were a season high, and for the second time this season they stole a school-record six bases. Dillinger swiped a school-record tying three bases in the game.
Against Colgate, the Billikens got some help from the long ball to open up an early lead. Pursell launched her team-leading second home run of the season in the top of the first. In the third, Dillinger hit her first home run as a Billiken, a two-run shot, to stretch SLU's lead to 3-0 through three innings.
A run came through on an error in the fourth, and freshman Shana Richard converted on a suicide squeeze to plate another to support a valiant effort in the circle from freshman Stacy Gillette. She scattered six hits over six innings, allowing no earned runs while striking out three. Junior Rosie Gonzalez earned her first save of the season with a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh.
SLU returns to The Billiken Sports Center on Tue., March 20 in a doubleheader against nationally-ranked Northwestern. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
