March 28, 2007
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Saint Louis and Eastern Illinois split a non-conference softball doubleheader today at Williams Field in Charleson, Ill. After silencing Eastern Illinois 2-0 in the first game of the double dip, the Billikens had to settle for a split after the Panthers took the nightcap 9-3.
Junior hurlers Ashley Levan and Lorena Floccari combined for the shutout in the first game, which was the third-straight blanking delivered by the pitching staff. In the second game, freshman Nicki Jost provided the offensive punch for the Bills with a three-run home run, but it wasn't enough as the Panthers (11-16) tagged four different SLU pitchers for 10 hits to secure a split.
In game one, the Billikens (15-17) jumped on top in their half of the second. Sophomore Annie Dillinger led off with a double, the first of her three hits in the tilt, then advanced to third on freshman Shana Richard's groundout. With two outs, freshman Brittney Schmidt walked, then stole second to enter scoring position. Schmidt's steal proved beneficial when senior Allison Appenfeller stroked a single up the middle, scoring Dillinger and Schmidt to give the Billikens a 2-0 advantage.
The Bills tacked on an insurance run in the top of the fourth. Jost led off with a walk, then advanced to second on a Dillinger base knock. After Richard reached to put runners and second and third, Jost trotted home as part of a double steal to stretch SLU's lead to 3-0.
Meanwhile, Levan mowed through the Panther lineup. In four innings of work, she allowed just one hit and walked one as she earned the win to improve to 7-3. Floccari came on in the fifth and enjoyed the same success, going three innings and stymieing the Panthers for just two hits. In doing so, she earned the fifth save of her career to move into first place on SLU's all-time saves list.
The once silenced EIU bats came alive in game two, as the Panthers plated five runs before the Billikens broke through in the top of the fourth. Senior Jill Pursell led off the inning with a single, then advanced when sophomore Rachel Heet drew a walk. Jost, the reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week, then corked a pitch over the left field fence to trim the EIU lead to 5-3.
EIU broke the game open in the fifth with four runs on three hits and a Billiken error. In all, EIU managed a hit in every inning except the bottom of the fourth when junior Rosie Gonzalez sat the Panthers down in order.
Saint Louis resumes A-10 action on Saturday when St. Bonaventure comes to The Billiken Sports Center for a doubleheader. Game one is slated for 1 p.m.
