Saint Louis University’s softball team is entering their 2012 season hoping to improve upon their respectable 29-24 record in 2011. The Atlantic 10 head coaches predict the Billikens to finish seventh in the A-10 Conference. SLU returns five position starters, three pitchers and four additional letterwinners from last year’s team, also adding two transfer students and two freshmen.
Junior Jessica Buschjost looks to expand on her dominant season last year, in which she hit .331 with 23 runs and 10 stolen bases.
“I think this season is going to be better than last season. Not making it to the tourney last year is fueling our fire to work even harder this year. We have the leadership and the abilities to not only be in the A-10, but to take it,” Buschjost said
Sophomore outfielder from Iowa Katie Kroeger hit .308 last season for the Hawkeyes and hopes to continue her success here at SLU. She was also a two time All-State selection from Northwest High School in Missouri.
With all the predictions and expectations looming in the back of their minds, the Billikens opened their 2012 season in Jacksonville, Fla., where they won four out of six games at the Jacksonville University Tournament and concluded the tournament on a four-game winning streak.
SLU lost the first two games to Buffalo and Virginia Tech.The Bills faced a 6-0 deficit before battling back to eventually lose to Buffalo 6-4. Stand-out Buschjost began the rally on top of the sixth inning with a single, followed by stealing second.
Billikens (0-1) faced Virginia Tech that afternoon. Alyson Brand’s grand slam gave the Billikens the lead in the sixth-inning, but Virginia Tech’s offense seemed too potent, slugging for five runs in the seventh-inning, good enough to defeat the Billikens 8-4 on Friday.
Saturday was a better day for the Billikens, who found themselves evening out their record with a pair of wins over UNC Greensboro 1-0 and tournament host Jacksonville 2-1.
Buschjost advanced on an error by UNC Greensboro’s third baseman, which allowed for Rachel Faletto to reach home, giving the Billikens the win in the top of the second. Sophomore pitcher Julian Austin covered fellow pitcher and senior Hannah Huebbe’s back, throwing the final three frames to pick up the save.
Buschjost led the bottom of the first with a single, was advanced by Kerri Dockins’ sacrifice hit and driven home on Brand’s single to earn the Billikens the tying run. Erin Harcar led off the second inning with a home run that would prove to be the winner, thanks to the stellar pitching performance’s from Huebbe and Austin.
Brand’s three-run home run in the fourth inning set the Billikens on the right track to trounce over Buffalo 8-1 Sunday morning. All nine position starters for the Billikens had at least one hit in the game. The Billikens improved to 3-2 on the season.
The Billikens went the distance in an extra-inning win to improve their record to 4-2, winning four straight games in their opening weekend in Florida. Faletto’s single drove in Dockins which proved to be all that was needed to push the Billikens past Jacksonville for a 1-0 win the game in the eighth inning.
The Billikens travel to the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament Friday through Sunday, Feb. 17-19, in Fort Myers, Fla. for five games. The Bills will face UT Martin, Florida Gulf Coast, Binghamton, Boston College and Delaware.
