Brianna Lore fired a 1-hitter, and Kelsey Biggs and Mackenzie Peter had three RBIs apiece to lead Saint Louis to an 8-0, six-inning victory over Southeast Missouri State Wednesday afternoon in game one of a doubleheader at the Billiken Sports Center.
Southeast Missouri won the nightcap, 9-7.
Lore (17-11) was working on a possible second no-hitter this season when Haylee Krack rifled a base hit just inside the first-base bag with two outs in the sixth.
Lore, who allowed only two runners to reach second base, struck out six and walked four in recording her second shutout of the year.
The Billikens (21-19) generated all the offense they would need in the first inning, batting around and scoring five runs.
Alex Nickel drew a leadoff walk and stole second ahead of a walk to Ellie Huffman. Lindsay Friedman’s bunt single loaded the bases, and Biggs followed with a two-run double to left center.
Lore walked to load the bases again, and one out later, Peter doubled to left center to make it 4-0. Madeline Brungardt’s two-out infield single provided SLU with its fifth run.
The Bills scored an unearned run in the third. Biggs led off with an infield single, advanced on a ground ball and an error and scored on Peter’s ground ball.
In the fifth, Saint Louis again manufactured a run to increase its lead to 7-0. Lore drew a leadoff walk, and pinch runner Brittany Durant stole second. Durant moved to third on Elizabeth Everingham’s fly ball and scored on Hailey Weavers’ ground ball.
The Billikens plated the winning run in the sixth. Huffman walked with one out and was forced at second on Friedman’s ground ball. But Friedman stole second on continuation of the play and scored on Biggs’ double to center.
Brungardt added a single for her second career two-hit game, and Nickel singled as part of the Bills’ eight-hit attack.
In game two, SEMO (8-30) got a two-run home run by Krack and scored three times in the first inning. But SLU retaliated with five runs in the bottom of the inning.
Leading off, Nickel reached second on an error by the right fielder. A walk to Huffman and a bunt single by Friedman loaded the bases for Biggs, who walked to force in a run.
Lore and Everingham followed with RBI singles, and Peter’s ground ball gave SLU the lead. Laney Kneib’s sacrifice fly completed the scoring.
In the third, another two-run homer by Krack tied the game 5-5, and SEMO regained the lead with a single tally in the fifth.
The Billikens answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to grab a 7-6 lead. Huffman drew a leadoff walk, advanced on Friedman’s sacrifice and Biggs’ ground ball, and scored on Lore’s single. Everingham kept the rally going with a single, and Durant – running for Lore – scored on a single by Peter.
However, the Redhawks went back on top by scoring twice in the sixth, and they added an insurance tally in the seventh. The Billikens loaded the bases in the seventh on an error and singles by Biggs and Everingham, but SEMO pitcher Hannah Durham worked out of the jam.
Saint Louis returns to Atlantic 10 Conference play Friday, April 25, with a single game at George Washington.
