Struggling, stumbling, faltering-all of these aptly describe the Saint Louis University softball team. After 25 games of the season, the Billikens have only been able to put together six wins.
This past Tuesday was no different. The Bills hosted Bradley for a double dip at the softball field and it wasn’t pretty. SLU went down hard in both games, mustering a two-run total for the double header.
In the first game, freshman Kristin Rossi went the entire seven innings for the Billikens, allowing only three earned runs. However, the Braves went on to score three unearned runs, pushing the final to 6-1.
In the second game SLU was hoping to rebound and take home a split. Bradley did its best to kill the Billiken hopes early. After the first inning, the Braves had put up two runs, and it took a nice dig by junior Allison Riva to get the Bills their chance at the plate.
Down 2-0 after half of an inning, SLU didn’t bow out yet. Freshman Beth Puttcamp got things started by driving a liner into left for a single.
Then on a busted hit and run, she stole second. Freshman Beth Yagge blooped an infield hit and Puttcamp advanced to third.
After a missed bunt attempt, Yagge dashed across the diamond to take second. The Braves failed on their attempt to pick off Yagge, and Puttcamp came racing home to score.
With Yagge on second and two outs, freshman Adrie Bogaars tagged a liner into centerfield, advancing Yagge to third. Two down with two on, sophomore Erin Jeffrey was thrown out at first on a ground ball, ending the Billikens turn at bat.
The second inning wasn’t kind for SLU. The Braves lead-off hitter stepped into the box and drove the ball between the legs of the first baseman, Riva.
From there Bradley managed to take back the run they had lost the previous inning.
The Billiken half of the inning was brutal. SLU managed only one walk and no hits during their turn at the plate. Bradley quickly took the advantage.
The Braves rattled off four runs before the Billikens could end the massacre. The only reason the inning ended was the result of a Brave dashing off first base before the pitch was released, an illegal move in softball.
SLU tried to get back in the game. Puttcamp returned to the plate and managed to pull out an infield hit.
She got greedy, and she was thrown out quickly after as she tried to steal second. The next two Billikens couldn’t manage a hit, and the inning ended.
The top of the fourth saw the SLU pitching come around and keep the Braves off the board, limiting them to only a single walk.
SLU looked to try and capitalize on the weak Bradley inning but fell short as they went down in order.
The Braves came back and did what the Billikens had problems doing the entire game, they scored runs. Bradley tacked on four insurance runs in their half of the fifth inning.
The Billikens came up to bat in the last half of the fifth with a major problem. If SLU didn’t score at least three runs, the game would be called due to the eight-run mercy rule.
SLU loaded the bases with two outs but lost all hope as Bogaars popped out to end the game.
Over the weekend, SLU went 1-3. The Bills lost two games to Wichita State and split a pair with UMKC.
SLU opens the Conference USA season against South Florida this weekend with a three-game series in Tampa.
