ST. LOUIS - The Saint Joseph's softball team dropped a pair of close contests at Saint Louis on Saturday as the Hawks fell 3-1 in the first game of a doubleheader, and 3-2 in eight innings in the nightcap.
In Saturday's first game, SJU starter Madison Clarke and SLU's Brianna Lore came out with strong pitching performances, keeping the score tied at 0-0 through the opening three innings.
The Billikens (19-23, 9-7 Atlantic 10) struck for the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth as they executed a double steal, with Brittany Durant scoring from third to give her team a 1-0 edge.
A two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth pushed Saint Louis' lead to 3-0, but Saint Joseph's fought back.
Rookie Amanda Kulp scored on a fielding error by Lore off the bat of senior Brandi Harkness to make it 3-1 in the top of the seventh.
The Hawks would get the go-ahead run to the plate in that inning, but Lore was able to get the final two outs to end the game.
Clarke fell to 6-6 on the year after allowing three earned runs on 10 hits, while striking out five.
In game two, the Hawks (16-21-1, 4-9-1 A-10) built up a 2-0 lead as they scored a run in both the first and second innings.
Kulp scored the first SJU run on a sacrifice fly by Harkness, while rookie Stacey Mayer scored on an RBI single by senior Sarah Yoos in the second.
Saint Louis tied it at 2-2 in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run by Allie Macfarlane.
The score would remain tied through seven, leading to extra innings.
Saint Joseph's had runners reach first and second in the top of the eighth, but a double-play ended the threat.
In the bottom half of the inning, Saint Louis took advantage of a fielding error by the Hawks with two outs, allowing Emma Buckles come to the plate and drive in the game-winning run with a single.
For the day, Kulp went 3-for-6 at the plate with a pair of runs scored.
Senior Anna Lauterbach was the hardluck loser in game two, allowing just four hits over 5.2 innings of relief, while striking out four. Rookie Ashley Ventura struck out two, while going two innings in the start.
The two teams cap their series on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m. ET.
