March 30, 2004

Game one Box Score

Game two Box Score

St. Louis, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State softball team dropped a pair of games Tuesday afternoon at Saint Louis University (12-24). In game one, the Otahks outhit SLU 10-7, but were unable to offer the final blow as they fell 2-1 in extra innings. In game two, Southeast (5-20) fell behind early before fighting back to tie it in the fourth inning. However, the Billikens came back to win it 6-4.

Southeast got on the board right away in game one. In the top of the first inning, senior shortstop Amy Murphy singled with one out. That was followed by a Kelly Birk walk. Then, with two outs, Jamie Birk drove home Murphy with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately for Southeast, it was all they could push across, as they left two runners on base. The Otahks would leave 10 more runners on base through the rest of the game.

In the bottom of the first, SLU also scored a run off starting pitcher Kelly Birk (2-6). The teams kept a 1-1 tie throughout regulation play. In the bottom of the first extra frame, Saint Louis catcher AshLeigh Williams led off with a triple. She later scored on a sacrifice fly to win it for the Billikens.

Southeast was led offensively by Jamie Birk who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Freshman Staphanie Mata also had a double, going 2-for-4 in the game, while Melissa Van Velkinburgh also went 2-for-4.

Kelly Birk went four and one-third innings and allowed one earned run and one unearned run, while giving up just four hits along the way. Senior Jessica Hunter pitched three innings in the game, striking out two and allowing only three hits.

In game two, the Otahkians gave up a run in the first and three more in the third, but came back to tie it 4-4 with four runs in the top of the fourth. Kelly Birk led off the inning with a double before sister Jamie walked. Both scored on the next play as Van Velkinburgh doubled them in. Junior Victoria Torrez singled Van Velkinburgh in with a single. The Otahks would later load the bases before Amy Murphy was hit by a pitch to drive in Torrez.

Unfortunately for Southeast, the Billikens scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning and won the game by the two-run difference.

Southeast will look to get back on the winning track as they open a seven-game homestand Thursday against Eastern Illinois. The April Fool's Day doubleheader starts at 3 p.m. at the Southeast Softball Complex.