(Courtesy Saint Louis Athletics)
Ellie Huffman had a career-high four RBIs and Brianna Lore allowed only one earned run to lift Saint Louis over Western Michigan 5-2 Saturday in the finale of the University of Illinois’ Fighting Illini Classic.
Huffman, who drove in six runs in the tournament, hit her second home run of the season. Meanwhile, Lore worked out of bases-loaded jams without yielding a run in the second and seventh innings.
The Billikens (11-10) scored all the runs they would need in the bottom of the fourth. After Kelsey Biggs was hit by a pitch and Lore reached on an error, Huffman went deep to make it 3-0.
Western Michigan (8-19) registered its first run in the fifth, but SLU answered with two tallies in the bottom half. Biggs and Lore singled with two away, and Huffman singled in Biggs for her fourth RBI. Lore scored when Macie Wheeler reached on an error.
The Broncos made it 5-2 with a run in the sixth and had the bases loaded with two away in the seventh. But Lore (7-7) induced a ground ball for the final out.
Elizabeth Everingham and Breanna Lockette singled for Saint Louis. Lore struck out seven while allowing six hits and walking three.
The Billikens open their home schedule Wednesday, March 19, hosting Kansas in a doubleheader that begins at 3 p.m.