Last weekend, the Saint Louis University Softball team played
three games and suffered three more losses as they battled East
Carolina University. Saturdays game delayed, by rain, saw the Bills
lose 1-0. Sunday’s first game gave the Bills a big loss, 14-5, and
the second game the Bills only lost 5-2.

The first game was delayed three-and-a-half-hours before the
start. “It was hard to stay up for the game–with all the rain
delays, but we stayed focused and were able to play good defense,”
Elizabeth Nielson said.

The game was scoreless until ECU’s Shirley Burleson singled to
lead off the top of the fifth inning for the Pirates. After a
strikeout, Dany’ele Hill walked. ECU’s Christine Sheridan reached
on a fielder’s choice as the Bills forced Burleson at third, for
the second out of the inning. Kate Manuse drew a walk to load the
bases. Krista Jessup hit a grounder to shortstop. SLU’s Ashlee
Heady reached to her right to grab the ball, but Jessup beat the
throw to first to put ECU up 1-0.

The game was called early, due to the rain. The Billikens’
Ashlee Heady had the only hit for SLU a flare to centerfield. “The
game ended early, and we didn’t get a chance to score the run
back,” Nielson said.

On Sunday, with the rain finally ending, the teams played a
double header, with the Bills losing both, 14-5, 5-2. In the first
game, the Bills came out strong with four runs in the bottom of the
first. Adrienne May and Kerri Higgins singled. A ground out moved
up both runners before AshLeigh Williams was intentionally walked
to load the bases. Beth Schomaker drove in the first run of the
game when she drew a walk for a 1-0 SLU lead. Christy Ernst then
hit a double to right center to open a 4-0 Billiken lead.

The turnaround came in the third inning when ECU scored three
runs and ran away with the lead in the fourth with seven runs. “We
got four runs and then they got three scrappy runs,” Nielson said.
“There were a few errors by us, and we let them score. In the next
inning we didn’t keep hitting like we were before and we didn’t
stay as focused on defense.”

The Pirates’ final four runs came in the top of the seventh
inning. The Bills tried to respond when Higgins scored but one run
was not enough.

In the second game of the day, ECU took the early lead–with
three runs in the first inning. The Bills remained scoreless until
AshLeigh Williams led off the fifth inning with an infield single
for the first SLU hit of the game.

Logan Justice followed with a two-run home run as the Billikens
closed to 3-2. The last runs of the game came in the sixth with two
more runs for ECU.

“We played a lot better in the second game. The pitching was
better, and we picked up our defense,” Nielson said. SLU tried for
one more comeback when Williams doubled and in the process broke
the single-season total bases record with 80. The previous record
of 79 was held by Nicole Bohnenstiehl in 2002.

Christy Ernst and Justice worked consecutive walks to load the
bases. However, ECU’s pitcher, Keli Harrell got the final two outs,
capping a 12-strikeout effort.