PHILADELPHIA – Alyssa Tarquinio delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the seventh inning, and Saint Louis held on for a 6-5 victory over Saint Joseph's Sunday afternoon at SJU Softball Field, giving the Billikens a sweep of an Atlantic 10 Conference three-game set.

Saint Louis, which improved to 32-16 overall and 15-5 in league play, retained its hold on second place in the A-10 with three conference games remaining. Saint Joseph's fell to 21-18, 6-11.

SLU saw an early four-run lead get away as Saint Joseph's scored a run in the fourth and three in the sixth. However, the Billikens retaliated in the seventh.

Alex Nickel drew a leadoff walk and was forced at second on Lindsay Friedman's ground ball. An Elizabeth Everingham single and a walk to Allie Macfarlane loaded the bases.

Brianna Lore's ground ball forced Friedman at the plate for the second out. But Tarquinio came through with a single to center field that scored pinch runner Madeline Brungardt and Macfarlane.

In the bottom half, Saint Joseph's made it 6-5 on a double, a single and a sacrifice fly. The Hawks had runners at second and third with two away, but Lore recorded the third out on a ground ball to Tarquinio at first.

The Billikens plated four runs in the second, all with two outs and all via the long ball.

Hailey Weavers sparked the rally with a walk and scored on Emma Buckles' first home run as a Billiken. Following a Josie Knesel single, Nickel hit her 11th homer of the season – breaking a tie with Friedman for the school record – to put SLU on top 4-0.

Nickel and Buckles enjoyed two-hit outings, and Lore chipped in a single.

Lore (17-9) pitched the first four innings and re-entered the circle with two outs in the sixth. She struck out five, allowed two runs and six hits, and did not walk a batter. Lore has issued just two walks in her last seven games (40 2/3 innings).

The start was the 100th of Lore's career, tying her with Lorena Floccari (2005-08) for the Saint Louis record.