Feb. 19, 2010

Jackson State Box

Grambling State Box

HAMMOND, La. - The Saint Louis softball team opened the season with a 6-2 win over Jackson State and a 1-0 victory against Grambling State at the Lion Classic in Hammond, La. Friday afternoon. It is the first time the Bills (2-0) have opened the season with two wins since 2002, and the second time that SLU has won its season opener since John Conway became the head coach prior to the 2007 campaign.

The Billikens got off to a good start against Jackson State (1-5) in the season opener with starter Kristin Nicoletti reached on an error and then stole second base. Her first theft of the season was the 72nd of her career, giving her the career record outright. She entered the game tied atop the chart with former Billiken Missy Keim. SLU was unable to push her around, but it came up big in the bottom of the second after Matesa retired the next three batters in order in the second.

JSU starter Tynett Sims issued back-to-back walks to Nicki Jost and Caitlin Trevillyan to begin the bottom half of the second inning. Rachel O'Connell hit a one-out RBI single to give SLU a three-run cushion. One out later, the Billikens loaded the bases when Kerri Dockins reached on a walk. Saint Louis posted its fourth and final run of the run of the frame when Laura Bohning reached on an error and O'Connell managed to scoot across before the Tigers recorded the third out.

Faletto's two-run homer in the third put the Billikens up 6-0. The second home run of Faletto's career scored Jost, who had stolen second base after reaching on a leadoff single.

It wasn't until the fourth inning that the Tigers had a player reach base as Matesa mowed the hitters down in order in the first three frames. With one out, Matesa issued a walk to Qumi Kimble. Then Farren Wright singled to left field and came all the way around to third on a Billiken error, while Kimble scored to break up the shutout. While the next batter was at the plate, Wright scored on a passed ball to cut it to 6-2.

Matesa (1-0) tied her career high with 12 strikeouts and allowed just two hits and two unearned runs while walking two. Her 12 K's increase her career total to 134, which ranks No. 9 on SLU's career list. Jost led all players with two hits, while Burger and Faletto each contributed two RBIs.

SLU had scoring opportunities early against Grambling State but couldn't take advantage. Nicoletti doubled and Jessica Buschjost collected her first collegiate hit, a single, in the opening frame. After a Billiken strikeout, Nicoletti was caught leaving early on a steal attempt before the ensuing batter popped out to second base to end the inning. In the second, Alyson Brand notched a one-out single for her first collegiate hit. She went to second on an error and moved on to third when Dockins flew out to left field. But she remained stranded at the hot corner as the inning ended with a groundout.

After hitting the first batter she faced, Billiken starter Hannah Huebbe settled down and retired the next seven batters before surrendering a two-out single in the third. But the Tigers never really threatened until the fourth when Huebbe issued a leadoff walk to Latrice Wood. After retiring the next two batters on a strikeout and a groundout, Huebbe gave up a single to Taylour Smith. Wood tried to score from first but was thrown out at the plate by Buschjost, who was playing center field.

The Bills finally made their move in the fourth after Brittney Schmidt posted back-to-back singles and Bohning was able to score on Dockins' hit to give SLU a 1-0 edge.

Grambling's best scoring chance came in the top of the sixth. Huebbe issued a leadoff walk to Jassitte Richardson before Wood popped out to second. Then Richardson was called for the second out after leaving the base early on a steal attempt. However, Huebbe gave up three straight walks to load the bases with two outs. But again SLU held the Tigers at bay as the next batter ground out to third base to end the threat.

Saint Louis loaded the bases in the sixth but was unable to push a run across. Brand reached on a one-out single, stole second and went on to third on a throwing error by the Grambling catcher. After a Billiken groundout, Schmidt was hit by a pitch and Trevillyan drew a walk to load the bases. But Nicoletti flew out to left field to complete the inning.

The Tigers final opportunity came in the top of the seventh after Brandi Payne reached on a leadoff single. She was then sacrifice to second on a bunt and stole third base. But Huebbe came through in the clutch, striking out the next batter and getting the final hitter to ground out back to her to end the game.

Huebbe (1-0) fanned seven, walked six and scattered three hits in tossing SLU's first shutout of the season and collecting her first Division I victory. Brand posted a game-high two hits, while Dockins tallied the game's lone RBI. Nicoletti, Buschjost, Dockins and Schmidt each recorded one hit.