March 28, 2010

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - A career-high 18 strikeouts from starter Kristin Nicoletti helped Saint Louis pick up a 2-0, 12-inning victory over Atlantic 10 Conference foe Saint Joseph's Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. The Billikens (16-10, 4-0 A-10) carried their game-one success over into the nightcap as they pounded out 10 hits en route to a 6-0 win to earn the sweep and remain unbeaten in league play. The Hawks fall to 13-10 overall, 0-2 in the A-10.

In game one, the Billikens were the first team to put together an offensive threat. In the third inning, Kristin Nicoletti and Jones advanced to third as the fourth ball was a wild pitch. Nicoletti swiped second but Gallagher and the Hawks escaped the jam as the next SLU hitter grounded out to the shortstop leaving two Bills in scoring position.

SLU starter Kelcie Matesa enjoyed a strong performance in the circle. No Hawk got further than first base until the fifth inning. The SJU rally began when Bernadette Moran hit a leadoff single. Moran was forced out at second on a fielder's choice before Matesa struck out the next batter for the second out. The Hawks got back-to-back infield singles from Dana Parks and Laura Cardone to load the bases. But Saint Louis got out of the inning unscathed as it forced Cardone out at second on a fielder's choice.

The Billikens scored the decisive runs in the top of the 12th. Caitlin Trevillyan began the frame with a single to left field. Then Laura Bohning and Trevillyan were both safe on a fielder's choice before Saint Joe's notched the first out on a ground out to third. Trevillyan and Bohning were both in scoring position when Gallagher recorded the second out on a strikeout. Kerri Dockins drew a walk to load the bases, and Nicoletti knocked a single into center field to plate the only two runs of the game. In the bottom of the 12th, the Hawks got a leadoff single from Moran before the next batter hit into a double play. Then Alaina Loguidice recorded an infield single, but Matesa struck out the next batter to capture the win.

Matesa (8-5) struck out a career-high 18 batters in the complete-game shutout. She allowed five walks and five hits in SLU's fourth extra-inning victory this season. Her 18 strikeouts were just two shy of the school record set by Ashley Levan at Rhode Island April 7, 2007. Nicoletti, Trevillyan and Faletto each recorded a hit for the Bills, while Nicoletti posted a game-high two RBIs.

Saint Louis got on the board early in the second game. Again it was Trevillyan sparking the rally with a leadoff single in the second inning. She stole second and took third when the catcher's throw to second sailed into the outfield. After a Billiken pop up, Trevillyan crossed on a fielder's choice by Bohning for the 1-0 edge.

The Hawks threatened in the third but were unable to score. Loguidice drew a walk to begin Saint Joseph's half of the third but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice. Cardone gave the Hawks a pair of base runners with a bunt single. SLU starter Hannah Huebbe induced a pop out before loading the bases by walking Brooke Darreff. But the Bills worked out of the jam by forcing the runner out at second base on a fielder's choice.

The Bills scored their second run with two outs in the fifth. Nicoletti reached on a two-out single to left field and promptly stole second. She came around to score on Rachel O'Connell's single to right field to make it 2-0. SJU's rally attempt fell short once again in the bottom of the fifth. Monica Aguilar hit a two-out single and Darreff doubled to center field to put a pair of Hawks in scoring position. However, the next batter struck out looking to complete the inning.

Bohning kicked off a four-run seventh inning with a solo blast over the wall in left field for her second homer of the week. Saint Joe's collected two outs before Nicoletti doubled and O'Connell singled to put runners on the corners. Both runners scored on Nicki Jost's three-run homer to left center. Jost's blast was the 14th of her career, which ties the school record held by Nicole Bohnenstiehl and AshLeigh Williams. The home run also pushed her over the top for SLU's career total bases mark (242).

Saint Joseph's tried to catch up in the bottom of the seventh after Darreff drew a two-out walk and Moran singled. But Saint Louis forced Darreff out at third on a fielder's choice to end the game.

Huebbe (8-3) earned the complete-game win, striking out four and walking five while scattering eight hits. Nicoletti turned in a 4-for-4 effort at the plate, the first player to tie the school record for hits in a game this season. Jost paced the squad with three RBIs, while Bohning had two RBIs and O'Connell and Trevillyan added two hits apiece. The Billikens are riding a five-game winning streak.