PHILADELPHIA – La Salle sophomore Valerie Pineiro hit a walk off solo homerun in the first game of Saturday's double-header to propel La Salle to a 4-3 victory over Saint Louis.  Pineiro went 3-4 at the plate on the day with two home runs and four RBIs. 
 
 
GAME 1
 
The Explorers jumped on the Billikens early plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Michelle Hagarty drew a two-out walk to start the momentum and Tina Bascara moved her to second on a single.  With two outs, Pieneiro sent one deep over the right field fence to bring her teammates home and give La Salle the early 3-0 lead. 
 
Senior pitcher Mary Cate Scott threw a stellar game, holding one of the most potent offenses in the league scoreless through five innings. The Billiken's currently lead the conference in home runs (22) and walks (110) and rank second in doubles (31) and RBIs (96). 
 
Saint Louis' Mackenzie Peter reached on an error to start of the 6^th inning and opened the door for the Billikens to chip away at the lead.  Elizabeth Everingham doubled to right center field to bring Peter across the plate, but an outstanding relay from Kendra Heyer in right field to Hagarty at shortstop was in time to catch Everingham trying to stretch for a double.  Allie MacFarlane hit a two-out double and was driven in by Alyssa Tarquinio's single.  With a runner on first, Scott forced Hailey Weaver to ground out to get out of the inning with a one run lead, 3-2.
 
Just one out away from defeat, Saint Louis' rally began with a single by Emma Buckles. Mackenzie Peter doubled to drive in Buckles and tie the game at 3-3. Brianna Lore popped out to end the inning, setting the table for a dramatic finish by the Explorers.
 
Pineiro hadn't returned from the plate empty handed all day.  Having homered in the first and singled in the fourth, Pineiro seemingly had Lore's number.  Pineiro continued her hot streak and sent her second home run of the game deep over the left field fence to give La Salle the 4-3 victory.  
 
GAME 2
 
Just as the Explorers got on the score sheet early in the first game, the Billikens wasted no time scoring in the second.  Alex Nickel led off the game with a solo home run off La Salle's rookie Marlo Roadcap.  A series of errors fueled Saint Louis' offensive fire and would lead to three Billikens runs before Roadcap ended the inning by catching Tarquino looking.
 
The Billikens would extend the lead to 6-0 in the top of the third when Macfarlane blasted a three-run home run off sophomore MacKenzie Peace who came in the game as relief earlier in the inning.
 
La Salle would threaten in the bottom of the fourth inning, loading the bases with no outs.  Freshman Emma Schweigert singled to bring in Hagarty and Bascara to cut the lead to four. After runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball, Laney Kneib walked Erica Reis to once again load the bases.  Lore would return to the mound in relief for Kneib and force Genevieve Gaynor into a double play before retiring Obert to get out of the jam. 
 
The Explorers would give up four more runs to the Billikens before the days end, succumbing to an eventual 10-2 loss. 
 
The decisive third game of the series will be played at noon on Sunday, April 3 at West Campus Field on La Salle University's campus.