March 24, 2007
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
ST. LOUIS - Behind shutout performances from junior pitchers Ashley Levan and Lorena Floccari, Saint Louis swept the visiting Dayton Flyers in a doubleheader this afternoon at The Billiken Sports Center. A lead-off home run from Jill Pursell and a two-hit shutout from Levan vaulted the Bills to a 9-0 win in six innings in game one. In the nightcap, Floccari scattered just three hits as the Bills blanked the Flyers 4-0.
The victories snap a three-game losing streak for SLU as it improves to 14-16 overall, 2-0 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. The Billikens stole a total of seven bases in the twinbill, bringing the season total to a school record 64, which eclipses the previous season best of 61 set in 1986.
In the first game, Saint Louis jumped on top in its first at-bat on Jill Pursell lead-off home run to left center, her team-leading fourth bomb of the year.
Meanwhile, SLU starter Ashley Levan cruised through the first three innings to preserve the Billikens' one-run lead. In the top of the third, she worked around an error and a wild pitch as Dayton stranded a runner after she advanced to second with one out.
The Billikens made it 2-0 in the bottom of the third courtesy of a wild pitch. Senior Allison Appenfeller reached after singling up the middle, then was pinch-ran for by Floccari. Pursell walked, then Heet loaded the bases after singling to right. During the ensuing at-bat, Floccari scampered home on a wild pitch, putting the Billikens up 2-0 after three innings.
Levan carried a no-hitter into the fifth, but Dayton's Sheena Rothwell singled to right field despite a diving effort from right fielder Brittney Schmidt.
The Billikens broke the game open in the fifth as they batted around and plated five runs. Pursell led off with a single to short, then stole second. She came around to score after Ernst poked a single up the middle, allowing Ersnt to move to second on the throw home. After Jost walked, sophomore Annie Dillinger ripped a shot to center for a single, but the ball was over-ran by the centerfielder and allowed her to advance to second after Ernst cruised around to score.
Kelley drove in two more with a single through the right side. Pinch hitter Shana Richard singled, then freshman Rachel O'Connell walked to juice the bases. With still just one down, Kelley came around to score on an Appenfeller base knock. Dayton then managed to work out of a one-out, bases loaded jam, but not before SLU put five runs on the board to stake a 7-0 lead.
After Levan struck out the side in the top of the sixth, Jost clinched the game via the eight-run rule with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. The homer, Jost's second of the year, also plated senior Jenna Renner who previously reached on an error.
Levan (6-3) went all six innings for the Billikens and allowed two hits while striking out nine. Pursell and Kelley each had two hits and two RBIs for SLU.
Just as they did in the first game, the Billikens managed to plate a run and jump to an early lead in the nightcap. Pursell led off with a single, then stole one of her school-record tying three bases of the game to advance to second. Heet then lined a shot to center to plate Pursell and give the Bills a 1-0 advantage.
The score remained 1-0 until the third when SLU tacked on two more runs. Pursell led off with a walk, then stole second. Heet then put a ball in play that went through the second baseman, resulting in a two base error and a run scored for Pursell. Jost drove home Heet with a single to improve the Billiken lead to 3-0.
Pursell scored her third run of the game in the fourth after scoring all the way from first after a stolen base and a throwing error by the catcher.
Floccari (5-8) scattered just three hits in the outing and retired the final seven batters in order for her fifth win of the season.
In the two-game set, Levan and Floccari did not allow a Dayton base runner past second base in helping SLU post back-to-back shutouts for the first time this season.
The Bills take a short break from A-10 action when it travels to Eastern Illinois on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader against the Panthers. Next Saturday, the Bills host A-10 foe St. Bonaventure at The BSC in a doubleheader slated for noon.
