A pair of freshman pitchers ruled the day for the Saint Louis University softball team as they swept the University of Tennessee-Martin, 1-0 and 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon at the Billiken Sports Center. Ashley Levan recorded the complete game shutout in the opener, striking out five and allowing only six hits. Lorena Floccari followed suit by allowing no earned runs and mowing down five as well in her complete game performance.
In game one, the scoring occurred in the fifth inning when senior Adrienne May tripled to start off the action. Junior Ashlee Heady then singled into right field, scoring May. This was all the Bills needed to notch the first win.
In game two, SLU got the action started in the early goings with May, ripping another triple in the bottom of the first. Junior AshLeigh Williams singled in May to put the Bills up 1-0. In the third inning, with runners on first and third, May scored again as SLU executed the double-steal. Later in the inning, the Bills scored again by way of the single, this time with freshman Jody Herbert supplying the offense.
The Skyhawks, with runners on, scored by way of an error, but it was not enough to overcome the Bills.
The two freshman hurlers, Floccari and Levan, have handled the brunt of the pitching duties for SLU this season, recording 40 of the 42 starts. The shutout for Levan was her fourth to compliment Floccari's five. Likewise, they are accountable for all of SLU's wins-Floccari with 12 and Levan with six.
The first game of the doubleheader proved a high-scoring affair for DePaul, who notched a dozen in a 12-2 win. The Bills were never in the game as the Blue Demons jumped out to an early advantage and never looked back. Knocking in runs for the Bills were junior Logan Justice and Herbert.
DePaul jumped on the Bills early, yet again, in the second game, eventually winning 8-0. Tracie Adix provided a shut-down pitching performance, allowing only two hits and striking out six for the Blue Demons.
The Bills were shut out again on Sunday by a score of 6-0. Megan Hutink provided the shutout for DePaul, striking out six in the process.
For DePaul, Saskia Roberson and Dana Kenny provided the weekend's offensive fireworks.
Roberson knocked in six runs in the Saturday doubleheader, and Kenny won offensive player of the week honors from Conference USA, due in part to her performance in St. Louis. Against SLU, she went 9-11. In the two Saturday contests, Kenny was perfect, hitting going 7-7, tallying four singles, two doubles, a triple and three RBIs. For DePaul, the Bills were wins eight, nine and 10 in a 10-game streak.
SLU sees their next action at home today, with a doubleheader against Southwest Missouri State. They travel to Louisville this weekend.
With their wins on Tuesday, the Bills built their record up to 18-24. The Bills are currently eighth in C-USA standings.
