After two impressive victories to open conference play, the Saint Louis University softball team faced non-conference opponent Illinois-Chicago yesterday in a doubleheader.
In the first game, the Billikens struck first. Senior Rachel Heet hit a one-out triple and was driven home by senior Katie Johns’ bunt to score the game’s first run.
After Heet’s run, the Billikens loaded the bases but were unable to capitalize. UIC responded with a three-run fifth inning, capped by a two-run home run.
The Billikens added a run in the sixth inning, but again left the bases loaded.
UIC scored a fourth run in the seventh inning to gain a 4-2 advantage.
In the bottom half of the seventh, the Billikens scored one run and loaded the bases; however, freshman Kelly Flanagan hit into a double play, ending the Billikens’ chances for a comeback victory.
“At the beginning [of the game], we weren’t really aggressive, but we started playing better toward the end of the game. We carried that same mentality into the second game,” sophomore Caitlin Trevillyan said.
UIC scored the first run of the second game in the fourth inning. The Billikens’ aggressiveness paid off, however, in the bottom half of the inning when the team scored four runs.
Cejka, freshman Kelcie Matesa and junior Rachel O’Connell loaded the bases to begin the inning. Sophomore Keri O’Keefe followed up with a two-run double. Freshmen Rachel Faletto and Liz Jones added two more runs before the end of the inning.
UIC added a run in the seventh, but junior pitcher Stacy Gillette held on for a complete-game victory.
“We had more people come through [in the second game]. Our pitcher kept us in the game, and we made plays when we had to,” Heet said.
The Billikens are 3-1 on their current home stand and play 3-20 Dayton this Saturday.
“Everyone is feeling good about the game,” Trevillyan said.
Heet agrees but is also cautious about complacency.
“The biggest problem is if we go into it thinking that it will be easy. It should be two wins but it just depends how much energy we bring,” Heet said.
