Billikens Eliminated from A-10 Championship
May 7, 2008 CHARLOTTE - One inning was the difference-maker for Saint Louis in a 1-0 loss to tournament host Charlotte in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Softball Championship today at Phillips Field in Charlotte, N.C. The defeat dropped the sixth-seeded Billikens (23-33-1, 11-9 A-10) in the consolation bracket, where they were eliminated from the tournament with a 4-1 loss to fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's. The 49ers (33-29, 12-8 A-10) broke through with the game's lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning. SLU starter Stacy Gillette issued a leadoff walk to Jenny Rumbles to start the rally. Then Sarah Malene reached on a bunt single when her sacrifice died just two feet down the first-base line. Charlotte took advantage of knowing the intricacies of its own field as Whitney Williams followed with a hit that also died right in front of the plate. Serena Smith smacked a shot over first baseman Katie Johns' head to drive in the decisive run. SLU had chances to score throughout the game but could not break through with a consistent series to push a run across. The Bills left six runners stranded, including leaving runners in scoring position in the second, third and fourth innings. Kristin Nicoletti, Katie Johns and Rachel O'Connell each had one hit apiece for Saint Louis. Gillette (6-14) took the loss after allowing one run on five hits while fanning seven and walking one in 5-2/3 innings of work. The Billikens atoned for missed scoring opportunities in its previous game with a run in the first inning against Saint Joseph's (19-22, 11-9 A-10). Nicoletti reached on an error, stole second and moved to third on a sac bunt. Rachel Heet's sac fly to left field with one out brought Nicoletti across for the 1-0 edge. A one-out sac fly also helped the Hawks tie things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the first.
SJU earned the lead in the third after Dana Bieniek singled through the left side with one out. Erika Rosenwinkel's RBI double to right center drove in Bieniek for the 2-1 advantage. Rosenwinkel pushed the Hawks' lead out to three runs with a two-out two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. Despite out-hitting SJU 8-6, Saint Louis again struggled to put runs on the board. The Billikens left 10 runners stranded on the basepaths, including five in scoring position. Heet, O'Connell and Brittney Schmidt had two hits apiece to lead the SLU offense. Lorena Floccari (7-14) was saddled with the loss in her final collegiate start after giving up four runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three. |
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