GAME RESULT
Saint Louis 1, Rhode Island 0
Sunday, May 7, 2023
URI Softball Complex
Kingston, R.I.
 
THE BASICS
Saint Louis scored a run in the first inning and three pitchers combined for a shutout as the Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season champion Billikens claimed a 1-0 victory over Rhode Island Sunday afternoon at the URI Softball Complex.
 
SLU, which has won 14 of its last 15 games, finished the regular season 29-23 overall and 20-5 in the A-10. The Billikens set a school record for best conference winning percentage (.800) while adding to their school mark for most conference victories.
 
The Bills have won eight of their last nine one-run games.
 
Saint Louis will be the No. 1 seed for the A-10 Championship, which begins Wednesday, May 10, at Fordham's Bahoshy Field in The Bronx, New York. The Billikens earned a first-round bye and will play their first game of the six-team, double-elimination tournament Thursday at 11 a.m. Central.
 
The full tournament bracket will be released later this afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
•After the first two Saint Louis batters were retired in the top of the first inning, Gabbie Kowalik drew a walk, stole second and scored on Abby Mallo's RBI single.
•The Billiken defense went to work in the bottom of the first. Kowalik cut down a runner at the plate from center field for the second out, and a second runner trying to score was thrown out by shortstop Chloe Rhine to retire the side.
•Rhode Island put two runners aboard twice, but starter Kaili Hanner and reliever Taylor Hochman worked out of those jams in the third and sixth innings, respectively.
•The Rams had the tying run at first base with one out in the seventh, only to have reliever Chloe Wendling induce a game-ending double play to record her second save in as many days.
 
BILLIKEN NOTABLES
•Hanner worked the first three innings in the circle. She struck out one and allowed three hits.
•Hochman pitched the next three frames and registered her fourth win of the season. She fanned one and gave three hits.
•Ashley Marietta doubled and singled.
•Kelsey Etling smacked a double.
•Jane Kaniecki had a single.