The Saint Louis University softball team traveled to Kansas for the Rock Chalk Challenge. The Bills faced UMKC, who scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. SLU threatened to retaliate in the fifth by loading the bases, but were unable to take advantage of the scoring opportunity. UMKC scored again early in the sixth. SLU could not shift the momentum in their favor and fell 5-0.
On March 20, the Bills played Tulsa and took an early 2-0 lead after senior pitcher Brianna Lore walked with the bases loaded and sophomore infielder Allie Macfarlane sacrificed a fly. Tulsa scored three runs in the second, one in the third and, fifth and two in the sixth and seventh to defeat the Billikens 9-2. In their second matchup of the day, the Bills versed Kansas, who pitched a no hitter and upended the Billikens 9-0. The Jayhawks recorded three runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and two in the sixth.
SLU went on to host DePaul on March 22. DePaul plated two runs in the top of the first inning, but junior outfielder Mackenzie Peter hit a two-out solo home run into left field to make the score 2-1. Junior first baseman Emma Buckles hit a RBI triple in the third to even the score. The Blue Demons scored twice in the fifth, and once in the sixth to make it 5-2. SLU scored once on an error, and Peter’s hit a single in the sixth to make the deficit a single run. DePaul extended their lead in the seventh and finished the game with a 6-4 victory over SLU.
The Billikens hosted St. Bonaventure in a doubleheader on March 25. In the first matchup, the Bonnies got on the board early with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. The Bills responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to a three-run home run from Peter. In the bottom of the fourth, SLU scored four unearned runs with two outs. The first error occurred with the bases loaded, then Macfarlane was walked with bases loaded, and finally sophomore infielder Alyssa Tarquinio capped the inning with a hit a two-run single. Although the Bonnies tallied an unearned run in the sixth, they were unable to recover and the Bills defeated the Bonnies 7-2. Lore struck out a season-high nine batters, earned her fifth win of the season, and did not allow any earned runs. Peter hit her ninth home run of the season.
During the second game, the Bonnies took an early 2-0 lead with a single home run and a sacrifice fly. St. Bonaventure extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth before SLU was able to get on the board with a RBI from Lore. Although the Bills had two runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, they were unable to bring them home and fell to the Bonnies 3-1.
SLU hosted St. Bonaventure again on March 26. The Bonnies took a commanding 4-0 lead after scoring two runs in the first, one a single in the second, and one in the sixth. The Bills responded in the fourth when Lore singled to bring home Peter, who doubled. St. Bonaventure scored again in the fifth, but the Bills went on a scoring frenzy and tied the game at five runs apiece. Junior catcher Hailey Weavers got the Bills motivated with her first home run of the season. Buckles brought in a runner off a single to make the score 5-3. Senior third baseman Elizabeth Everingham helped tie the game with a two-run single.
In the bottom of the seventh, Nickel led off with her second walk of the game, advanced to second on a sacrifice from Buckles, and scored on Everingham’s line shot to left field. The Bills successfully defeated St. Bonaventure 6-5 in a wild comeback.
The Billikens were scheduled to play no. 15 Missouri on March 30 in a double-header, but the game was canceled due to impending rain conditions. The games will not be rescheduled. SLU will travel to Philadelphia to play La Salle on April 2 & 3 before taking on Dayton in Ohio on April 6.
