April 25, 2007
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Saint Louis dropped a pair of non-conference softball tilts at Evansville on Wednesday by the scores of 3-0 and 7-0. The Billikens managed 14 hits in the two-game set, but were unable to deliver as they stranded a combined 17 base runners in the two setbacks. The losses dip SLU to 22-29 overall, while Evansville improves to 29-16.
In game one, the Billikens had their first scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth. Trailing 2-0 at the time, SLU got back-to-back two-out singles from senior Jill Pursell and freshman Shana Richard. Freshman Nicki Jost then reached on an error to load the bases, but sophomore Annie Dillinger struck out to strand the bases loaded.
In the top of the seventh, now down 3-0, sophomore Rachel Heet and senior Allison Appenfeller led off with a pair of singles. But UE starter Ashley Hobbs retired the next three batters to escape with the shutout.
The Purple Aces plated scored once in the third, and again in the fourth and sixth innings. Krista Price put UE on top in the bottom of the third when she singled home Lissa Fehlman, who led off the inning with a double. The Purple Aces tacked on another run in the fourth when a fielder's choice and a passed ball allowed Ashley Werner to score on a Casey Kemna base knock. Evansville plated its third and final run in the sixth when Fehlman lifted a sacrifice fly to center.
Hobbs allowed six hits, two of which came off the bat of Pursell, and struck out nine in the complete game shutout. SLU starter Stacy Gillette got the loss after giving up three runs on nine hits.
The second game was a nail-biter until the Purple Aces broke out for five-run sixth inning. Evansville's Herald got things started with an RBI triple in the third, and Liz Mooney made it 2-0 with a solo home run off SLU starter Lorena Floccari in the fifth.
UE broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Rosie Gonzalez relieved Floccari at the beginning of the inning, and allowed a solo home run to the first batter she faced. A single and two walks later, Floccari re-entered the game to face Mooney with the bases loaded. With none away, Mooney sent a Floccari pitch over the fence for her second home of the night and a 7-0 Evansville lead.
SLU stranded at least one runner on base in all seven innings, including the third, fourth, fifth and seventh when it left two runners on. The 11 stranded is second most this season, second only to the 13 runners left on base during the 14-inning affair at Indiana State.
Jost and Richard were both 2-for-4 in the second game. The Billikens' defense was solid on the day, as they put together back-to-back errorless games for the first time this season.
The Billikens resume Atlantic 10 Conference action on Friday when Temple comes to town for a 7 p.m. single game. SLU faces the Owls again on Saturday at 1 p.m. before hosting Saint Joseph's for Senior Day on Sunday.
