April 11, 2007
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis upended Missouri-Kansas City in both games of a doubleheader Wednesday at The Billiken Sports Center. In game one, SLU scored five unanswered runs to complement an effective outing from reliever Stacy Gillette for a 5-3 victory. In the nightcap, the Billikens used a school-record three doubles from senior Jill Pursell and a three-run home run from senior Jenna Renner en route to an 8-3 triumph. The victories move SLU's record to 21-21, which eclipses last season's win total despite the team still having at least 18 games remaining on the schedule.
The 21 victories under head coach John Conway are the most for a first-year coach in SLU softball history. In addition, the wins are the most since the 2003 club posted 21 victories.
In game one, SLU junior Rosie Gonzalez had to battle through a steady rain in the first inning in what was her first start of the season at home. UMKC came through with back-to-back doubles from Ashley Toft and Alicia Baker to take an early 1-0 lead, but Gonzalez pitched around further damage with a strikeout to end the Kangaroos' threat.
UMKC struck again in the top of the third. Kylie Williamson reached on a fielder's choice, then circled the bases on a Taia Jones home run to stretch the Kangaroos' lead to 3-0. The Jones homer chased Gonzalez from the game, and freshman Stacy Gillette struck out the only batter she saw in the frame.
SLU used a long ball of its own in the bottom of the third to jump back into the game. Senior catcher Jill Pursell lined a single up the middle, sophomore Rachel Heet cracked a shot that found its way over the center field fence to knot the game 3-3. It was Heet's second home run of the season.
Gillette cruised through the next three innings, and got some defensive help in the sixth inning to preserve the 3-3 tie. Jones led off the frame with a single, then was sacrificed over to third on a pair of bunts. With two out, UMKC's Sam Hurst scorched a liner to center field, but SLU's Annie Dillinger got a tremendous read on the ball and snagged it while diving forward and to her right.
After the game saving catch in the top half of the inning, Dillinger scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. Dillinger and freshman Kinsley Kelley reached on errors, and Dillinger came around on a throwing error by the catcher attempting to steal third base. Senior Allison Appenfeller delivered on a suicide squeeze to plate Kelley and tack on an insurance run for the Billikens at 5-3.
After Gillette allowed a leadoff single in the top of the seventh, junior ace Ashley Levan came in to close out the game. She got two strikeouts and a groundout to deliver a 5-3 win the Billikens. In doing so, she earned the first save of her career.
Gillette earned her second win of the season in the circle after 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. She allowed just two hits and walked one.
In game two, it was SLU that cracked the scoreboard first. Pursell roped a leadoff double to left center, then advanced to second on a Heet groundout. Ernst then put a ball in play that allowed Pursell to trot home for an early 1-0 Billiken advantage.
SLU starter Lorena Floccari worked around two leadoff singles in the top of the second. After a sac bunt pushed both runners into scoring position with one out, she retired the next two batters via a strikeout and a groundout to get out of the jam.
The Bills scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the third. Renner smashed a double, then came around on Pursell's second double of the game to make it 2-0 SLU. Jost helped make it 3-0 Billikens in the top of the fourth. She doubled down the left field line, then ending up scoring as part of a double steal.
Floccari ran into some trouble in the top of the sixth. Jaclyn Schuyler led off with a single, then stole two bases and was standing at third on no one out. Carli Slagle then poked a single through the left side to plate Schulyer and trim SLU's lead to 3-1. The ensuing batter, Taia Jones, then lifted a two-run shot to left to knot the game 3-3.
The Billikens didn't wait long to reclaim the lead. Freshman Nicki Jost led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk, then advanced to third on a stolen base and a steal. The manufacturing paid off, as she was able to score via a wild pitch to put the Billikens back on top 4-3. Walks to Appenfeller and Kelley put runners on base for Renner, who blasted another home run to right center, putting the Billikens up 7-3. For good measure, junior Jody Herbert drove in freshman Shana Richard, who doubled, to make it 8-3.
Floccari pitched all seven innings and struck out six while walking none.
Pursell established a SLU single-game record by stroking three doubles in game two. Numerous Billikens have hit two in a game, including Ernst who did it last year. In addition, Pursell's three runs scored on the day give her 31 on the season, which ties her with Dawn Elser (1987) for first all-time on the single-season runs chart.
The Billikens resume Atlantic 10 Conference play on Friday against La Salle. First pitch at The BSC is slated for 5 p.m. The Bills host the Explorers again on Saturday at noon, and battle Fordham on Sunday in a doubleheader scheduled for noon.
