May 16, 2007

At Season's End: Under first-year head coach John Conway, the Saint Louis softball team enjoyed the best season in program history in 2007. The Billikens established a school record in wins with a 29-33 slate and established team records in runs, hits, doubles and home runs. As the No. 3 seed in last week's Atlantic 10 Championship, the Billikens advanced through the field to the title game before losing to host and top-seeded Massachusetts.

Recapping the A-10 Championship: No. 3 Saint Louis opened the week on Wednesday with a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over No. 6 George Washington. On Thursday, SLU dropped a 10-2 decision to No. 2 Fordham, but a 1-0 victory over No. 5 Charlotte the ensuing day set up a rematch against the Rams. With the Billikens facing elimination, they scored four times in the top of the sixth to upset the Rams and earn a spot in Saturday's championship round. Saint Louis was up early against the Minutewomen, but UMass rallied down the stretch to claim the 9-3 win and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Coach John Conway: Conway, along with assistants Bill Rosner, Randi Null, Kendra Moore and Terry Moore, M.D., led the Billikens to 29 victories in 2007, which is the most in team history. He achieved his first win at SLU on Feb. 24 in a 2-0 decision against Northern Iowa. Hired in July 2006, Conway came to SLU after leading Fontbonne (Mo.) University to three NCAA Division III Tournaments in four years. In five seasons overall, Conway has posted a 144-81 career record.

Setting the Standard: Saint Louis eclipsed the single-season wins mark with a victory against George Washington on May 5 in its regular-season finale. It was SLU's 26th of the season, and the additional three wins at the A-10 Championship sets the wins standard at 29.

Running of the Bills: In the latest NCAA statistics summary, Saint Louis ranked 22nd nationally with 1.73 steals per contest. Its 107 steals is a single-season record, and the Billikens' total is more than the previous two seasons combined. SLU stole a single-game record six bases on three separate occasions this year.

Rewriting the Books: As a team, the Billikens eclipsed seven single-season records. Their 416 hits are a school record, as are their 76 doubles, 25 home runs and 202 RBIs. They drew a single-season record 136 walks and stole a record 107 bases. Pitching wise, the Bills' 393 strikeouts are also a school record.

Home Sweet Home: SLU's 11 wins at the Billiken Sports Center are the most since the facility opened in 2000. The previous high of nine was accomplished by the 2001 Billikens.

Senior Jill Pursell is the all-time single-season leader in hits, doubles, runs scored, at bats and total bases.

Five Down: Senior Jill Pursell established five single-season records this season. Her 73 hits eclipsed the previous mark of 61 set in 2001 by Erin Jeffery. She broke the doubles mark with 16, while her 39 runs scored, 106 total bases and 200 at-bats are also single-season records.

Workhorse: Freshman Nicki Jost was the only player on the roster to see action in all 62 games. It is the new school record for games played in a single season, surpassing the previous high of 61 accomplished by five players in 2004.

On Strike: Junior pitchers Lorena Floccari and Ashley Levan already rank in the top five in career strikeouts. Levan's 472 Ks rank second all-time, while Floccari's 317 ranks fourth. In addition, the duo ranks in the top 10 all-time in wins, ERA, appearances and innings pitched.

Senior Allison Appenfeller drove in 23 runs on the year.

You Can Call Me Al: Senior infielder Allison Appenfeller (Leawood, Kan. / Blue Valley North) established career-highs with a .232 batting average and 23 RBIs ... her .333 average at the A-10 Championship ranked second among SLU's starters ...singled and stole a base against UMass ... stroked a game-winning, two-run double in SLU's upset against Fordham ... walked, singled and scored in the Bills' A-10 Championship opener against George Washington.

Ernst Goes to Camp: Senior infielder Christy Ernst (Lake St. Louis, Mo. / Wentzville Holt) finished second on the club with a .336 average ... established career highs with 49 hits, 10 doubles and 21 RBIs ... ends her career tied for fifth all-time with a .293 career batting average ... drew a team-high five walks at the A-10 Championship ... walked and singled in the season finale against UMass ... walked and scored a run in SLU's win against Fordham ... walked twice and scored a run in the first game against the Rams.

Everybody Loves Jill: Senior outfielder Jill Pursell (Pinckneyville, Ill. / Pinckneyville) was a first-team All-Conference selection ... led the team in hits (73), runs scored (39) and doubles (16), all of which are new single-season records ... also established school records with 200 at bats and 106 total bases ... led the league in hits and doubles in the regular season ... reached base in every game at the A-10 Championship ... singled, stole a base and scored against UMass ... singled in back-to-back games against Charlotte and Fordham ...doubled in the A-10 Championship opener against George Washington.

Senior Jenna Renner's two-run home run against GW in the A-10 Championship opener lifted the Billikens to victory.

Road Renner: Senior catcher Jenna Renner (Belleville, Ill. / Althoff) finished fourth on the team with four home runs ... talllied a career-best 13 RBIs on the season, which is more than her previous three seasons combined ... singled and walked in the Billikens' win against Charlotte ... vaulted the Billikens to victory in the A-10 Championship opener against GW with a pinch-hit, two-run home run on the first pitch she saw.

Side Burns: Junior utility player Jess Burns (Linn, Mo. / Helias) scored 10 runs on the season ... appeared as a pinch runner in all but one game at the A-10 Championship.

Ebb and Flow: Junior pitcher Lorena Floccari (Tallmadge, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) finished the season 10-14 with a 4.14 ERA ... second on the squad with 82 strikeouts ... is the school-record holder with 108 career appearances in the circle ... named to the A-10 All-Academic Team ... pitched 4-1/3 innings over two games in a relief role at the A-10 Championship.

Speedy Gonzalez: Junior pitcher Rosie Gonzalez (Newton, Kan. / Barton County CC) was fourth on the team with 21 appearances in the circle ... posted a 3.93 ERA, which ranked second on the club ... pitched two innings of scoreless relief against UMass.

It's Herbie Hancock: Junior infielder Jody Herbert (Moline, Ill. / Alleman Catholic) appeared in 24 games before suffering a season-ending injury late in the year.

Junior Ashley Levan ranks 14th in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings.

Levan on the Edge: Junior pitcher Ashley Levan (Springfield, Ill. / Sacred Heart Griffin) was named first-team All-Conference and chosen for the A-10's All-Academic team ... led the pitching staff with 13 wins, a 2.56 ERA and 221 strikeouts ... ranks 14th nationally and led the A-10 with 9.8 strikeouts per seven innings ... is the second pitcher in SLU history to surpass the 200- strikeout barrier in a single season ... named to the A-10 All-Championship Team after posting a 2-1 record with a 2.88 ERA and 21 strikeouts at the tourney ... picked up the save after retiring the final two hitters in SLU's win against Fordham ... tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering just five hits and striking out 11 in the victory against Charlotte ... went the distance in the A-10 Championship opener against GW, allowing three earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts.

Dill Pickle: Sophomore outfielder Annie Dillinger (Dupo, Ill. / Fontbonne) led the team with 19 stolen bases, which ranks sixth in SLU history ... tied for the team lead with five home runs ... fourth on the squad with 24 RBIs ... reached on a fielder's choice and later scored SLU's first run against UMass ...doubled in the win over Fordham ...drove in a run in the Bills' first game against Fordham ...had two hits, including a solo home run to center, and scored twice in the A-10 Championship opener against GW.

The Heet is On: Sophomore outfielder Rachel Heet (St. Louis, Mo. / Mehlville) was named to the A-10 All-Championship Team after leading the team in hitting with a .438 clip ... raised her season average to .299, which ranked fourth on the club overall ... led the squad with three triples and was tied for fourth with nine doubles ... tied for second on the team with 26 RBIs ... went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the season finale against UMass ... was hit by a pitch and scored in the win over Fordham ...stole a base and scored against Charlotte ...went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in the first game against the Rams ... went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the A-10 Championship opener against GW.

Close Shaves:Freshman pitcher Stacy Gillette (Palatine, Ill. / William Fremd) finished third on the team with 24 appearances and four victories ... got the win in SLU's upset victory against Fordham after going 6-1/3 and allowing two runs on 10 hits.

Freshman Nicki Jost played in a school-record 62 games in 2007.

Jost in the Nick of Time: Freshman catcher Nicki Jost (St. Louis, Mo. / Oakville) established a new SLU single-season record after appearing in all 62 games ... ranked second on the squad with 14 doubles and fifth with a .285 batting average ... led team with 28 RBIs and finished tied for the team lead with five home runs ... tied for second on the squad with 17 stolen bases ...named to the A-10's All-Rookie Team ... reached on a fielder's choice and stole a base in the season finale against UMass ... doubled and scored in the win against Fordham ... stroked a game-winning RBI single, scored a run and stole a base against Charlotte.

King for a Day: Freshman utility player Kinsley Kelley (St. Peters, Mo. / Fort Zumwalt South) hit .214 ... stole seven bases on the season ...drew a walk in the win over Fordham.

The O.C.: Freshman utility player Rachel O'Connell (Arlington Heights, Ill. / Hinsdale Central) had 20 hits and stole seven bases ... led the squad with 21 walks, which is tied for fourth all-time ... reached on a fielder's choice and scored in the season finale against UMass ... walked in the Charlotte tilt ... laid down two sacrifice hits in the A-10 Championship opener against GW.

I Wanna Be Rich: Freshman infielder Shana Richard (Nashville, Ill. / Nashville Community) ranked third on the team with a .316 batting average ... was a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases ...had a team-best three RBIs at the A-10 Championship ...drew a walk in the season finale against UMass ... went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs in the win against Fordham ... stroked an RBI single in the A-10 Championship opener against GW.

Brit-ish Invasion: Freshman infielder Brittney Schmidt (Columbia, Ill. / Columbia) started the last 32 games, most recently at shortstop ... stole five bases on the season ...drew a walk in the season finale against UMass ...was hit by a pitch in the win against Fordham ...dropped sacrifice bunts against Charlotte and George Washington.