03/26/06

For the third time in as many days at the Midwest Region Invitational in St. Louis, the 23rd-ranked Saints toppled No. 7 Washington (Mo.) University on their home field, defeating the Bears 4-2 in a last at-bat come from behind rally on Sunday.

Down 2-1 entering the top of the seventh inning, Kristi Erickson got the Saints going with a lead-off double. Dre Thomas walked to put the go ahead run on base with Laura Heise stepping up to the plate, already 2 for 3 on the day.

Wash.U. made a pitching change but it made no difference to the clutch Heise as she doubled to bring in Erickson and Thomas and put the Saints in the lead for the first time in the game.

After a ground out and foul pop up brought the Bears to the brink of getting out of the inning down only one run, pinch-hitter Missy Erickson singled to push Heise across the plate and give the Saints a 4-2 lead.

Heise (10-3) struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh and earned the win for the Saints after coming on in relief for the final two innings.

Starter Rilee Dawson was strong over the first four innings, settling down quickly after surrendering 2 runs on 3 hits -- the only hits she surrendered in facing 17 batters -- in the bottom of the first. Amy Jansen came on in the fifth and pitched a no-hit inning before handing the ball to Heise to start the sixth.

Heise led the Saints at the plate with a 3 for 4 day that included 2 RBI and a run scored. Missy Erickson and Kelly Cordie collected an RBI apiece, and Dre Thomas scored 2 runs in the win.

The victory over the Bears moved the Saints (13-5 overall) atop the standings at the Invitational with a 5-1 record. Included in their winning record in St. Louis was a sweep of a Bears squad that entered the Invite with a 12-0 mark, had already won the UAA conference championship tournament, and had been riding a 39-game regular season win streak.

Both Wash.U. and Fontbonne (Mo.) University, whom the Saints split with in two games against each other, were NCAA Regional qualifiers in the 2005 NCAA tournament last season.

Next up for the Saints is a weekend on the road in Wisconsin. First up is a doubleheader with UW-River Falls on Saturday, followed by a Sunday twin bill against 2005 regular season WIAC champ UW-Eau Claire. Both doubleheaders are slated for game one start times of 1 p.m.