The Billiken softball squad improved to 6-4 on the season after winning three and dropping two matches in the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn. After losing their first two games, SLU regrouped to take three victories in their final three competitions.
SLU faced UT Martin in the first game, losing 1-0, when they conceded a run at the top of the seventh inning. Junior pitcher Maddie Baalman was solid from the mound all game, but UT Martin connected a double and a single to score the game’s sole run. The women could not generate much offense in response, however, only allowing two runners to reach second base.
In the second game, SLU faced Western Michigan and lost, 5-3. SLU’s offense was much stronger, earning two runs in the first inning off an error and an RBI double by junior infielder Alyssa Tarquinio. The Bills held their own up until the fourth inning when Western Michigan scored five times with 10 batters.
The women attempted to come back in the fifth inning with a double from junior outfielder Josie Knesel and a single from senior outfielder Mackenzie Peter to make the game 5-3. In the final innings, SLU appeared to gain momentum with doubles from sophomore pitcher Kallen Loveless and senior outfielder Emma Buckles, but the Bills were unable to convert on either chance.
In the first game of day two, SLU defeated Farleigh Dickinson, 9-1, in five innings. Peter teed off with a home run in the top of the first inning to earn a 3-0 advantage. Buckles connected on an RBI double to earn another run for SLU in the second inning. Junior infielder Allie Macfarlane smashed a double to add two more runs to the tally, making the game 6-0. In the fifth inning, senior infielder Alex Nickel and Peter tacked onto the runs with a walk and a two-run single, respectively.
SLU destroyed Northwestern State, 20-7, in their final game of the second day. An RBI single from Peter, single from Tarquinio and double from Loveless got the game going, and, despite Northwestern State’s comeback to tie the game at four runs apiece, SLU hit a hot streak for five straight innings to rack up the runs.
Senior catcher Hailey Weavers had her first homerun of the season. Tarquinio also added a home run in the fifth. SLU recorded a season high of 15 hits.
In the final game, SLU defeated the host team, Chattanooga, 5-2. Sophomore infielder Mackenzie Lawson and Nickel combined plays to bring SLU out front, 3-0. Chattanooga scored two runs in the bottom of the third to put the pressure on the Billikens, but Peter and Weavers put SLU in the lead for good off a triple and a home run, respectively.
On March 4-5 SLU will compete in the We Back Pat Tournament at UMKC.
