Feb. 13, 2009

Box Score

HENDERSON, Nev. - Saint Louis rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat Southern Utah 6-4 on Friday in its first game at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Henderson, Nev. It was the first time the Billikens (1-1) had won a season opener since the 2002 campaign. But SLU's hopes of a 2-0 day were dashed as Virginia no hit the Bills to secure an 11-0 win in the nightcap.

Southern Utah raced out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The leadoff batter reached on an error before Brittany Henderson drove a single through the left side. A groundout put both runners in scoring position for cleanup hitter Darleen Fernandez, who sent a pitch over the left center field fence to give the Thunderbirds the early advantage. SUU went on to load the bases before SLU starter Stacy Gillette fanned the No. 9 batter the escape the inning.

In the bottom of the first, Kristin Nicoletti drew a leadoff walk and head coach John Conway immediate put her in motion. She stole second base and advanced to third on Kerri Dockins' sacrifice bunt. Following a groundout, Nicki Jost blasted an RBI single through the left side to trim the margin to two. Jost was also on the run as she stole second and third base, and came around to score when catcher Caroline Fernandez's throw to third sailed into foul territory down the left-field line.

Saint Louis threatened again in the bottom of the fourth. Katie Johns reached on a two-out walk and rookie Rachel O'Connell drew a walk to fill the bases. However, the Billikens could not come up with the clutch hit they needed as starting pitcher Bubba Kearns snagged Nicoletti's line drive to end the frame. Southern Utah's Shannon Lum started the fifth with a blast over the right center field fence to give her team the 4-2 lead.

The Billikens used walks and hit batters to push a run across in the sixth. Relief pitcher Kristina Brooks walked Rachel Heet knocked a two-run single up the middle to give SLU its first lead at 6-4, which held for the final score.

Erin Kelly (1-0) earned the win in 2-2/3 innings of relief after holding the Thunderbirds hitless while striking out three and walking one. Gillette struck out five and surrendered eight hits, four runs (three earned) and four walks in 4-1/3 innings. Brooks (1-5), who threw an inning of relief, suffered the loss after allowing four runs, one hit and two walks while fanning one.

In game two, Virginia's Giannina Cipolloni chopped a single to the left side with one out in the bottom of the first. After stealing second, Cipolloni scored on Sarah Tacke's hard hit double to the fence in left field. The Cavaliers (5-2) added two more in the second inning after the first two hitters reached on singles and a fielder's choice loaded the bases. Then with two outs, Cippolloni smashed a two-run single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.

Nicole Koren's two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth gave the Cavaliers a five-run advantage. Tacke hit a solo homer in the fifth to extend the lead to six. A trio of round trippers, including a grand slam, helped Virginia score six runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game 11-0 courtesy of the run rule.

SLU's only scoring opportunity came in the second inning when Caitlin Trevillyan started the frame by reaching safely on a two-base error by the Cavaliers. A groundout moved her over to third, but that was where she remained as starting pitcher Karla Wilburn (4-0) set the next two batters down in order.

In her first collegiate start, Matesa (0-1) scattered seven hits for five runs while walking one and fanning two in four frames of work. Wilburn struck out three and walked one en route to the victory.