April 26, 2008

Softball Splits With Saint Joseph's to Keep GLVC Bid Alive

GAME ONE
GAME TWO

ST. LOUIS, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team split a doubleheader against Saint Joseph’s College Saturday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference action at the UMSL Softball Field, keeping the Tritons’ hopes for a conference tournament bid alive.

UMSL took the opener, 4-1, before dropping the second game in 10 innings, 5-4.

UMSL now stands at 23-23 overall, including 12-12 in the GLVC and moves into sixth place in the league standings, one game ahead of Quincy, Rockhurst, Wisconsin-Parkside, who are all tied for seventh. The top eight teams qualify for the GLVC Tournament, held next weekend.

Saint Joseph’s moved its record to 20-23, 10-12 in the conference.

The Tritons used four runs in the seventh inning of the second game to force the extra play.

Saint Joseph’s Sara Somogyi threw a no-hitter, allowing just two base runners through six innings until UMSL’s late rally.

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman Karey Kruse led off with a double, before junior Kelly Essner doubled to score Kruse for the Triton’s first run of the game. Senior Casey Dierkes then tripled to deep left center, scoring Essner and senior Jessica Keim and then crossed the plate herself on a Pumas throwing error to knot the score.

The Pumas scored the game-winner in the top of the 10th on a single by Cheryl Zakowski.

Freshman Crystal Koehler started on the mound, allowing five hits, while giving up just one earned run. Essner took the loss, pitching in relief.

In the first game, junior Megan Riggs went 3-for-4 in the plate with two RBIs and a run scored, while Essner was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

The Tritons scored an early run in the first inning after Pumas pitcher Jessica Privett threw a bunted ball by Essner past the first baseman. Riggs advanced to third on the bunt and then reached home on the throwing error.

Riggs then delivered a two-run double to left center in the fourth inning, scoring pinch runner Amanda Seib and sophomore Megan Brussman to put UMSL up 3-0.

Freshman Ja Cee Ellis doubled down the left field line in the fifth inning to score Essner who reached on a single for another UMSL run.

St. Joseph’s scored on a two-out double in the seventh for the final score.

Junior Allyson DeFosset picked up her 14th win of the season on the mound. The hurler fanned five, while pitching an UMSL single-season best 13th complete game.

UMSL returns to action tomorrow in its final regular season game, hosting Indianapolis in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.