Saint Louis Holds Off Delaware, 4-3, as Blue Hens Conclude Play at FGCU Tournament
February 19, 2012
• Boxscore
FORT MYERS, Fla. –A seventh inning Blue Hen rally fell just short as the Saint Louis University softball team held off the University of Delaware, 4-3, Sunday morning as UD concluded play at the Florida Gulf Coast University Tournament.
The Billikens, who improved to 7-4 on the year, opened the scoring in the top of the first when Jessica Buschjost singled to shortstop, stole second, and scored on an RBI single to center by Laura Bohning.
Delaware, which dropped to 2-5 on the season, would tie the game by piecing together a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Lara Andrews singled to shortstop with two outs, and after Gina Knutson reached on a fielder’s choice, Rachel Jones (at right) legged out an infield single to load the bases. Alicea Coy then worked a walk, forcing home Andrews to knot the contest at 1-1.
However Saint Louis would go right back in front during the top of the fourth, as after a walk and a hit batter, Lindsay Friedman delivered a two-run double to centerfield to give the Billikens a 3-1 advantage.
The Blue Hens cut the deficit in half during the bottom of the fifth when Andrews led off with a single and eventually scored when Jones ripped an RBI single to left. However Saint Louis went back in front by two in the top of the seventh as Erin Harcar led off with a triple to right and crossed the plate on a two-out double to leftcenter by Bohning.
Delaware would rally in the bottom of the seventh, as Michelle McKinnon (at left) led off by getting hit by a pitch and quickly advanced to second on a passed ball. Billikens relief pitcher Kelcie Matesa then struck out Andrews, but Knutson followed with an infield single and Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Matesa then uncorked a wild pitch to allow McKinnon to score and move the other runners to second and third, but she recovered to retire Coy on an infield pop out and then struck out Marisa Newman to end the game.
Saint Louis starting pitcher Julian Austin improved to 2-0 after she gave up two earned runs on five hits in five innings of work, while Matesa earned her first save of the year as she was charged with one run on one hit with four strikeouts in the final two frames. Blue Hen righthander Hannah Rust went the distance for Delaware, giving up four earned runs on six hits during seven innings in the circle while falling to 1-1 on the campaign.
Andrews led the UD attack by finishing 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored, while Jones was 2 for 2 with an RBI and a walk.
Delaware returns to action next Saturday and Sunday with four games at the Norfolk State Spartan Classic.
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