On Sept. 16 the Billikens Softball team began their fall season with back to back wins against Washington University (WashU) in St Louis and John A. Logan College. The Billikens won the Atlantic 10 softball regular season last spring, but fell short of the championship in a 5-7 extra innings loss to Loyola Chicago. Looking to regain their energy from last season and evaluate their roster, Saint Louis University hosted a trio of games, playing in the first two, winning 8-2 against WashU and 8-0 against JALC.
SLU played WashU first. The two hour long onslaught began in the bottom of the third inning when junior outfielder, Natalie Sullivan, drove one into the outfield for a base hit and SLU’s first score of the day. WashU would tie shortly thereafter with an RBI of their own, coming off of a double driven up center field. The Bears would take the lead by taking home on a wild pitch. SLU would tie when the Bears threw a wild pitch of their own, allowing freshman pinch runner, Karsen Jany, to cross home plate. The Billikens would take back the lead thanks to freshman pitcher, Anna Christ, who would slam it deep into left field for a double and bring a runner home. Sophomore, Ashley Marietta, would end the inning with a grounder along the first base line to advance the runner at third. In the bottom of the fifth, Sullivan would bunt to load the bases. Sophomore power hitter, Chloe Rhine, would be walked, advancing Kendall Johnson to home and keeping the bases loaded. Sophomore catcher, Abby Mallo, would hit a double for two RBIs and shortly after crossing the plate herself, Johnson would bring the Bills’ total to eight with a grounder before the inning’s end. Due to time constraints the game would end an inning early, SLU forfeiting and nine phantom runs being added to WashU’s score so that SLU could play John A. Logan at the scheduled time.
The Volunteers were no match for Saint Louis as they would only put forth two hits against the Billikens’ 12. The first point of the game would be scored early in the second inning by fifth year lefty, Cami Newbanks, who would slam a homer well past the fence for the 1-0 lead. Soon after, freshman infielder, Abby Ulsas, would walk to load the bases. With bases loaded Sullivan would take ball four to bring Ashley Marietta home. In the fourth inning, SLU’s second home run came off the bat of Mallo, who would take Ulsas with her to home plate, bringing the score to 4-0. After going scoreless in the fifth, the Billikens would add to their already impressive total with a line drive by Abby Ross for an RBI. Graduate catcher, Kelsey Etling, would hit SLU’s third home run of the afternoon with runners on first and second to bring the score up to eight. It wasn’t until after these four runs did the Volunteers finally secure an out. The Billikens would hold the volunteers to a single hit in the final inning, bringing their total to two and keeping them scoreless for a 8-0 victory.
WashU and John A. Logan are not the same caliber of opposition as SLU’s conference opponents, but these preseason games give confidence to the team and its fans that the Billikens can win the Atlantic 10 regular season again, as well as the tournament championship they lost out on last year. Young sluggers, Mallo and Rhine, were second and third on the team in slugging percentage last season as well as being in the top four in runs, home runs, RBIs and total bases and will likely improve. Mallo and Rhine were among the A-10’s best hitters last season during their freshman year and head coach Christy Connoyer and her staff will only help them to improve. Natalie Sullivan and Jane Kaniecki are two elite hitters whose veteran presences can’t be ignored either. With the offense proven the only questions reside on the other end of the ball. Chloe Wendling was arguably the A-10’s best pitcher last season and concluded her collegiate career as one of the best pitchers in SLU history. Her usual closer Kaili Hanner also graduated last spring, leaving the door open for tertiary pitcher Taylor Hochman as well as freshmen Isabel Royle, Lily Strand and Anna Christ. The decision rests with Connoyer and these preseason games will impact her decision greatly.
