April 13, 2007

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - A solo home run in the top of the seventh by La Salle's Mary Pat Conville ended Saint Louis starter Ashley Levan's no-hit bid and lifted the visiting Explorers to a 1-0 triumph in Atlantic 10 Conference softball action Friday night at The Billiken Sports Center. Conville's homer, which landed on the top of the fence in right center and skipped over, was the only blemish of the game for Levan, who struck out 11 in the complete game.

The loss dips SLU to 21-22 overall and 6-3 in league play. La Salle improves to 12-15 overall and inched closer to .500 in the A-10 at 5-6.

After the Explorers took the lead in the top of the seventh, Saint Louis rallied in the bottom of the frame before the threat was extinguished on a reversed call on the base paths. With one out, freshman Nicki Jost walked. Sophomore Annie Dillinger then singled up the middle, putting runners on first on second. Jost and Dillinger both attempted to steal, and Jost was called safe at third after it appeared the ball squirted out of the third baseman's mit.

But after a conference involving the third base and home plate umpire, the call was overturned and La Salle pitcher Laura Dezolt struck out SLU senior Jenna Renner swinging to end the game.

Levan did not allow a hit through the first six innings of play. She mowed through Explorers lineup early, and at one point struck out six batters in a row. The only La Salle base runner came in the fourth, when Vinnie Caputo reached on an error.

SLU, which suffered just its third loss at home this season, got hits from freshman Brittney Schmidt, freshman Rachel O'Connell and Dillinger.

Weather permitting, the teams will be back at it tomorrow in a single game at The BSC. First pitch has been pushed up to 11 a.m., which is a change from the original schedule. Any scheduling updates will be posted on www.slubillikens.com as soon as they are available.