April 26, 2009
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Gina Massaro hit an RBI single to left field in the top of the eighth inning and added a complete game pitching effort to lead the Explorers to a 3-2 upset of Saint Louis on Sunday afternoon. The Billikens took the second game 2-0.
The two teams battled throughout five scoreless innings before the Explorers broke through for two scores in the top of the sixth. DJ Guinn reached base on an infield single to third base to lead off the inning. Laura Gallagher then reached base on a fielder's choice in which pinch runner Rebecca Turygan was out on the play. Gallagher advanced to second when Alicia Dela Rosa drew a walk and both moved up a base on a wild pitch to put runners at second and third. Ali Shepherd loaded the bases with a walk and Massaro followed up with a 2 RBI double to left center to put the first runs on the board.
The Billikens sliced the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth on a Rachel O'Donnell double and Nicki Jost single. They knotted the score at two apiece in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kerri Dockins earned the RBI on a fielder's choice when pinch runner Rachel Faletto scored. With two on and one out, Massaro forced the final two outs with a foul fly ball and a flyout to center field.
After going up 3-2 in the top of the eighth, the Billikens threatened with runners at second and third but Massaro got Caitlin Trevillyan to ground out to end the game.
Massaro belted two doubles in the game and Mary Pat Conville added one as the Explorers pounded out seven hits to the Billikens' six. Massaro also earned the win in the pitcher's circle as she went all eight innings, gave up two runs on six hits, walked three and struck out five. Kelcie Matesa suffered the loss for the Billikens. She pitched a complete game, gave up three runs - two earned - on seven hits, walked four and fanned 12.
The Explorers also committed no errors in the game while the Billikens made four miscues.
The second game started much like the first as both teams went scoreless through three and a half innings. The pitcher's duel featured only four Explorer hits and only three Billiken hits. The Billikens broke through with the only two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on one hit, one error and two hit by pitches.
The Explorers drew two walks to put runners at first and second in the top of the seventh inning, but Billiken pitcher Stacy Gillette forced a pop-up for the final out in the 2-0 game.
Guinn pitched 3.2 innings and gave up both runs to suffer the loss. She also struck out three and walked none. Massaro came on for 2.1 innings of relief and limited opposing bats to just one hit. Gillette earned the win in going the distance and limiting the Explorers to four hits. She also walked six and struck out four.
The Explorers are back in action on Friday (5/1) when they head to Massachusetts for a single game beginning at 3:00 PM.
