LAWRENCE, Kan. – Emma Buckles snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning, and Saint Louis went on to register its eighth consecutive victory, 6-3 over UMKC, Friday at the Jayhawk Invitational.
With the win, SLU tied the 2014 team’s school record for most consecutive victories. The Billikens, who have won 10 of their last 11 games, are off to the best 20-game start (14-6) in program history.
Alex Nickel hit her second home run of the season, a solo shot with two outs in the bottom of the third, to give Saint Louis a 1-0 lead. UMKC (10-11) tied it in the top of the fourth, but the Billikens went on top for good in the bottom of the frame.
SLU loaded the bases with nobody out on a Lindsay Friedman walk, an Elizabeth Everingham single and a Brianna Lore walk. The next two batters were retired, but Buckles came through with a hit to right field that plated Friedman and Everingham.
The Bills struck for three runs in the fifth. Nickel led off with a single, and with one out, Friedman was hit by a pitch and Everingham singled to load the bases. Lore drove in Nickel and Friedman with a single, and Alyssa Tarquinio’s single brought home pinch runner Josie Knesel.
UMKC scored twice in the sixth, but reliever Laney Kneib shut down the threat and retired the Kangaroos in order in the seventh.
Starter Maddie Baalman (4-2) allowed a run on three hits and two walks in five innings of work.
