GAME RESULT
Saint Louis 12, Fordham 3 (5 innings)
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Bronx, N.Y.
 
THE BASICS
Saint Louis pounded out 13 hits, including three home runs, and Taylor Hochman registered her league-leading 14th win of the season in the Billikens' 12-3, five-inning victory over Fordham Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game Atlantic 10 Conference series.
 
SLU (28-18, 15-8 A-10) claimed sole possession of second place in the A-10 by taking two of three from Fordham. The Billikens host first-place Dayton (17-6) next weekend in a three-game set that concludes the regular season.
 
Fordham and Loyola Chicago are tied for third at 14-9, Saint Joseph's is fifth at 13-10, and Massachusetts is sixth at 12-11. The top six teams in the final standings qualify for the A-10 Championship, with the top two earning a first-round bye.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
•Saint Louis struck quickly with two runs in the top of the first inning. Natalie Sullivan smashed her third home run of the season, a solo shot, and Cami Newbanks made it 2-0 with an RBI double.
•Fordham puts its first run on the board in the third inning.
•The Billikens exploded for eight runs in the fourth. Kendall Johnson got things rolling with an RBI single, Jane Kaniecki rapped a two-run single, Kelsey Etling's bunt single brought home a run, and Chloe Rhine collected an RBI single. Abby Mallo polished off the inning with a three-run homer, her team-leading 10th long ball of the year.
•Fordham scored twice in its half of the fourth to make it a 10-3 game, but SLU plated the tallies it needed for a run-rule win in the fifth when Kaniecki swatted her first home run of the season, a two-run blast.
 
BILLIKEN NOTABLES
•Hochman allowed just two earned runs.
•Sullivan, Johnson and Mallo added a single apiece for two-hit games.
•Abby Ulsas and Jocelyn Abbott each recorded a single.
•Etling drew three walks.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Louis concludes the regular season by hosting Dayton May 4-5. Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's single game begin at noon. The Senior Day ceremony follows Sunday's contest.