April 17, 2008

Softball Team Earns Split Against Quincy

GAME ONE
GAME TWO

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Senior Casey Dierkes’ sacrifice fly to center field brought in junior Madyson Hern to break a 3-3 tie as the University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team earned a 4-3 victory over Quincy Thursday afternoon in the first game of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at the UMSL Softball Field. Quincy won the second game, 4-3.

Quincy took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when designated hitter Korby Paul connected for a two-run homerun over the left field fence.

UMSL freshman designated hitter Ja Cee Ellis countered with a three-run blast in the bottom of the first, scoring junior Kelly Essner and freshman Karey Kruse to put the Tritons up 3-2.

Quincy’s Sarah Ormond hit the game’s third homerun over the left field fence in the third inning to make it 3-3 before Dierkes’ game-winning sac fly.

Junior Allyson DeFosset picked up the win on the mound, pitching the complete game two-hitter. The hurler struck out 10 and walked just two to move her record to 11-11 on the season.

A seventh inning rally by the Tritons in game two fell short. Trailing 4-2, senior Jessica Keim delivered a home run with one out to pull UMSL within 4-3. Essner then walked on the next at bat and would advance to second on a passed ball before reaching third on a groundout by Kruse. Ellis flied out to centerfield to end the game.

Junior Stephanie Kelly homered to left center in the bottom of the fourth inning for UMSL.

Freshman Crystal Koehler got the start on the mound in the second game, going four innings. She gave up two earned runs on three hits, while striking out four. Essner pitched in relief and gave up five hits.

Kruse finished the day with a 3-for-7 performance at the plate with a pair of doubles, while Keim was 3-of-6.

UMSL returns to action Saturday at Kentucky Wesleyan in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.