BILLIKENS SET FOR FOUR GAMES AT COACH B CLASSIC
• Saint Louis softball plays four games this weekend at Southern Illinois' Coach B Classic in Carbondale, Illinois.
• The Billikens begin play Friday vs. Ball State at 12:15 p.m., followed by DePaul at 4:45 p.m. Sunday, SLU takes on Austin Peay (2:30 p.m.) and Southern Illinois (4:45 p.m.).
• Ball State is beginning its season at the Coach B Classic after posting an 18-9 record a year ago. DePaul (3-2; 8-12 in 2020), Austin Peay (4-0; 11-12 in 2020) and Southern Illinois (6-0; 15-6 in 2020) all have seen action in 2021.
• Southern Illinois plans to provide live statistics for each game of the Coach B Classic. Please visit the SLU softball schedule page here to access the links.
 
A LOOK AT THE BILLIKENS
• In its season opener Feb. 22, Saint Louis fell 5-4 at Bradley. Gabbie Kowalik homered, doubled twice and had three RBI to lead the Billikens. Kat Lane and Sadie Wise collected three and two hits, respectively.
• The Billikens returned 14 of 16 players from last year's team that played 21 games in the shortened season.
• Among the returning players are three 2019 first-team All-Conference performers, led by senior first baseman Sadie Wise. Wise began the 2021 campaign atop the Saint Louis career lists in batting average and slugging percentage and among the top 10 in on-base percentage, doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases and hits. She batted .438 (school record) in 2020.
• Senior center fielder Kat Lane ranks third in batting average and 10th in on-base percentage on the Bills' career charts. Lane hit .344 a year ago.
• Junior left fielder Gabbie Kowalik, who also was the A-10 Rookie of the Year in 2019, began 2021 sixth in batting average, seventh in slugging percentage and eighth in on-base percentage all-time at SLU.
• Christy Connoyer is in her 11th season at Saint Louis, making her the longest-tenured head coach in Billiken softball history. Connoyer has more victories (251) than any other head coach in program annals.
 
UP NEXT
• The Billikens return to Carbondale to compete in SIU's Saluki Invitational March 5-7. In addition to the host team, SLU will face Northern Kentucky (twice), Creighton and Illinois-Chicago.