The Saint Louis University softball team was swept by the Louisville Cardinals this past weekend. The Bills lost one game Saturday, 11-0, and two games on Sunday, 18-2 and 1-0, respectively.
"We knew that they were tied for first and we beat ourselves before we even got on the field," said freshmen Kara Sell. "We came out with the attitude that they were better and it beat us."
The first game of the series started off badly for the Bills, with the Cards scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. The lead-off batter for the Cards, Audrey Rendon, started off the inning by hitting a triple which was quickly followed by another triple from Candi Hicks to score the run. Two more hits scored the runner from third and added two more base runners for the Cards. With the runners in scoring position, a hit to center field scored both runners, giving the early 4-0 lead to Louisville.
The second inning looked similar to the first, with the Cards scoring three more runs. A lead-off single started the second-inning run. With a stolen base and a SLU pass ball, the runner was able to reach third. Hicks then hit a two-run homer to increase the Cardinal lead. With two more hits in the inning, the Cards were able to score again and enhance their lead 7-0.
"We weren't focused during the game," Sell said. "They were able to get about 20 hits, our pitcher walked some, our defense wasn't working well, we weren't getting hits, and we just weren't ready to play."
In the bottom of the third inning, the Cards gained two more runs. Hicks got her third hit of the night, this time a double to right-center to score two base runners, which increased the Cards lead. The next inning reflected what the previous three innings already showed. The Cards once again improved their lead by two with another home run, this time by Jenn Skaggs, to add two more to the score, 11-0.
The Bills only got one hit in the third inning by Adrienne May, a double, but were unable to score.
The next day did not prove any better for the Bills. The Bills lost the first game 18-2.
"The second game we had the same attitude as we did the day before," Sell said. "Our attitude is what beat us, but it was even worse for the second day. We weren't mentally prepared for the game and we let them get to us."
The Cards jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the first when Audrey Rendon singled and stole second. A single to right scored Rendon for the first run of the game. Lacy Wood hit a double to score two runners. A groundout to second scored another run, a single scored another; and a Billiken throwing error scored yet another runner for the Cardinals. A triple and a single scored two more runs to start off the game with an 8-0 lead. In the second inning the Cardinals scored three more runs to put them up 11-0. The third inning finally proved fruitful for the Bills with two runs scored. Jill Pursell drove in a run with an RBI single, and Samantha Horn had a bases-loaded walk to bring in the second SLU run to make it an 11-2 game.
Louisville got revenge in the bottom of the third, with a lead-off double. Another double to right scored the runner. A third double scored yet another run and Cards batter Alma Navarete cleared the bases with a two-run home run to center, making the game 15-2. The Cards then added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 18-2 game.
The last game in the series proved to be a close match, but the Bills still came up short losing 1-0.
"Finally, before we started the last game our coach talked to us," Sell said. "He told us that we can play with any team, and that was the difference in the final game." The Louisville pitcher Catherine Bishop out-pitched SLU's Lorena Floccari, who only gave up one run, but it was enough to give the win to U of L. Louisville's Lacy Wood hit a solo home run in the fourth for the game's only run. Kara Sell had the first hit for the Bills in the top of the fifth, but the Bills were unable to score.
"We actually tried in the last game, and we all played well together," Sell said.
The Bills have a few games off before they host USF on May 7 and 8. The Bills are 18-28-1 this season and 4-17 in conference play.
"We need to go into the game against South Florida with the same attitude that we brought to the last game; that we can play with any team," Sell said.
