April 24, 2008

Essner Pitches, Hits Tritons to Sweep Over Wash U

GAME ONE
GAME TWO

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Junior pitcher Kelly Essner allowed just two hits as the University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team earned a 3-0 victory in the first game of a doubleheader against Washington University-St. Louis Thursday night in non-conference action at the UMSL Softball Field. The Tritons also won the nightcap, 5-3.

Essner, who pitched the complete game shutout, retired 17 straight to end the game after giving up a single in the second inning with one out.

Offensively, Essner went 3-for-6 at the plate on the day with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Senior Jessica Keim went 2-for-6 with a double and triple, while junior Megan Riggs was 3-for-5 with a pair of singles and a triple and three runs scored.

UMSL improves to 22-22 overall, while Wash U falls to 22-9.

The Tritons scored three quick runs in the first inning of the first game with Riggs crossing the plate on a single by Essner before a two-run single from sophomore Carly Maddock brought in Essner and senior Dana Essner.

In the second game, Riggs led off the first inning with a triple and later reached home on a bunt by Kelly Essner. Wash U countered with a single run in the third inning.

Riggs then scored in the third inning after advancing to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Kelly Essner followed by an error on the Wash U third baseman. Junior Madyson Hern scored the second run off the inning to give the Tritons a 3-1 advantage on a single by Keim.

Wash U added a pair of runs in the fourth inning to knot the score at 3-3 before senior Alex Ogle delivered a two-run double to score Hern and Kelly Essner for the final score.

Freshman Amanda Seib started on the mound for the Tritons, giving up three runs on five hits in three innings of work.

Junior Allyson DeFosset pitched in relief, scattering just two hits, while recording her 13th victory of the season. The hurler also tallied seven strikeouts, moving her season total to 191, which sets a new single season record at UMSL, bettering the old mark of 184.

UMSL returns to action Saturday, hosting Saint Joseph’s College in Great Lakes Valley Conference action. The doubleheader begins at 12 p.m.