Tuesday the Saint Louis University softball team took both games
of a double header at home against Southeast Missouri State
University, winning 2-1 in the first game and 6-4 in the
second.
The Billikens took game one in dramatic fashion after going into
the eighth with a 1-1 tie. With a runner on second in the top of
the inning SEMO nearly took the lead on a single to center but
Adrienne May nailed the runner trying to reach home on the hit.
AshLeigh Williams led off the bottom of the inning for the
Billikens with a triple and SEMO proceeded to put the next two
runners on to load the bases. But the tactic did not stop the
Billikens as Allison Appenfeller ended the game with a sacrifice
fly that scored May from third.
“It was a really close game and we had to battle every inning,”
said Ashlee Heady. “We stayed with them and knew that we could
win.”
Freshman pitcher Elizabeth Nielsen helped the Billikens collect
the win with six strikeouts claiming her 10th win of the
season.
Ready to come out on top again in the second game, the Billikens
had a 4-0 lead that included a three-run home run by Logan
Justice.
“We hit really well and our pitching held them,” Heady said. “We
got the hits when we need them in key situations.”
SEMO rallied back to tie the game in the forth, but the
Billikens remained relentless in the bottom of the fourth scoring
two runs to take the 6-4 lead and the game. May scored off an Heady
double, and the second run came after an intentional walk to
Williams and Christy Ernst got hit by a pitch.
“We came though in clutch situations. Both our defense and
offense were really working together tonight,” said Heady.
Last Wednesday against the University of Missouri-Kansas City
the Billikens came out ready to play to win.
“We got off the bus and had a sense that we were going to win,”
Beth Schomaker said. “You could tell we had no fear, came together,
supported each other, and it all fell together.”
Playing a double header, the girls took the first game 4-2 and
the second 4-3. The first game was won in dramatic fashion as the
Bills pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh.
“The team bonding got stronger and we played real well
together,” Schomaker said.
With two outs and the bases loaded Heady stepped to the plate
and singled giving the Bills the 4-2 that they would hold on
to.
“We all had a good team attitude, came out ready to win, stayed
up every inning,” said Heady.
Again in dramatic fashion, the Billikens pulled out the win in
the second game in the ninth.
With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, UMKC tried
steal the win, twice sending runners to home, but both were nailed
at the plate by the top Billiken defense. In the ninth, Justice
lead off with a single which was followed by a base hit by Heady.
After advancing by a fly out, Justice scored on a UMKC error. The
win marked the 100th career coaching victory for Jim Malloy.
“Last week especially it was more a team effort, all of us up
and down the line up contributed, really wanted it and stayed
positive,” Heady said.
“The freshmen have been a big part in our team,” Schomaker said.
“They have come in, stepped up, taken their role, and have been
very helpful throughout the season.” Senior captains Kristin Rossi
and Kerri Higgins have contributed to the team immensely as
well.
“The captains have kept the team together. Especially during
practice they are very motivating, keeping us focused, and they are
very open so you can talk about anything with them,” Schomaker
said. “They are respected on the team.”
The following Saturday, the Billikens faced Notre Dame and
Western Kentucky at the Hoosier Invitational in Bloomington, Ind.
Against Notre Dame, the Billikens took a tough 4-3 loss in a game
that did not see any scoring until the sixth when both teams scored
off of three-run homeruns. Ernst had the home run for the Billikens
driving in Higgins and May who each got on with singles.
But the tie was broken when Notre Dame took the lead on a solo
homerun that proved to be the deciding factor in the game.
In the following game, the Billikens had eight hits but could
not convert them into any runs as they were shut out 4-0 by Western
Kentucky.
“We hit the ball well, but we just didn’t get the hits together
when we all needed to,” said Heady.
As the season has progressed the Billikens have been looking for
each aspect of their game to improve and to come together.
“One part of the game will be strong for a game but not another,
and I just hope in the remaining games that all the aspects get put
together,” Nielson said.
The Billikens are second in Conference USA in double plays and
ranked 17th nationally in fielding percentage, so many times a loss
for the Billikens has come at the plate. “We need to focus more
when runners are in scoring position,” said Heady. “We need to
focus more on our at bats and producing more RBI’s.”
On the second day of the Hoosier Invite, the Billikens dropped
two games to Indiana (19-16), 6-4 and 10-0. In game one, the
Billikens came out strong at the plate, scoring three in the first
on an AshLeigh Williams three-run home run.
But Indiana would get all they needed in the third scoring six
runs as six straight batters reached base.
With more than 25 games left and 13-24 on the season the
Billikens know they have alot of games left to play.
This weekend the Billikens will travel to Tampa, Florida to play
in a double header on Saturday and once on Sunday. “We have to take
one game at time and go after them,” Heady said.
