DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton softball team dropped its doubleheader against Atlantic 10 Conference foe Saint Louis at home Wednesday, 6-5 and 7-6 (8). Junior Tiffany Ricks led the Flyers offensively with a 4-for-7 day at the plate with two RBI and seven total bases on the evening.

Senior Rachel Archer extended her hitting streak to a team-best 12 consecutive games and senior Kasi Vazquez knocked out her team-best seventh home run of the season.

GAME ONE: Saint Louis 6, Dayton 5 | Box Score (PDF)
Saint Louis (18-13, 5-1 A-10) was able to bring in three runs on the top of the second when Hailey Weavers sent a two-out, three-run homer over the right field fence as the Billikens went up 3-0 early in the first game. Dayton (14-19, 2-4 A-10) got a run back in the third with a RBI-single from Archer but SLU scored again in the top of the fourth as the Billikens were ahead, 4-1.

Ricks knocked out a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Billikens' lead to two, 4-2. But SLU retaliated in the top of the fifth with a two-run blast to left field, stretching the team's lead to 6-2.

Senior Jordan Jennings singled in Archer in the sixth inning and the Flyers rallied in the seventh with a pinch-hit, two-run homer from Vazquez. But, the rally fell just short as Saint Louis held on for the 6-5 win.

Junior Kayla English (9-8) was charged with the loss after working a complete game for the Flyers. She struck out eight batters while walking two and gave up six earned runs on nine hits.

Brianna Lore (14-7) earned the win after also throwing a complete game for Saint Louis. She struck out two while walking none and gave up five earned runs on nine hits.

GAME TWO: Saint Louis 7, Dayton 6 (8) | Box Score (PDF)
Dayton got the scoring going early in the second game with a two-spot in the first inning Jennings recorded another RBI when she singled in junior Natalie Mariano and senior Alysha Isaacson scored on a passed ball as bases were loaded. Ricks singled in a run in the second for the Flyers as Dayton took the 3-0 lead over Saint Louis.

The Billikens scored a single run in each of the third and fourth inning but the damage was done in the fifth as SLU plated four to take the 6-3 advantage. In the fifth, Isaacson doubled in Mariano and Isaacson was plated on a single by senior Dana Trotta but the tying run was brought home in the sixth. Archer led off the frame with a single, was moved over on a sacrifice bunt from Mariano and then ran home on a single from Isaacson as the Flyers evened the score at six runs apiece.

It would take an extra inning in the rain and impending darkness for either team to score. With the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, a Billiken scrambled home to score the winning run on a passed ball. The Flyers were unable to score in the bottom of the eighth as SLU held on for the 7-6 win.

English was again charged with the loss for the second game after closing out the game for the Flyers. She tossed 2.2 innings, striking out four and walking four. English did not give up any earned runs but was the pitcher of record when SLU took its final lead. Freshman Gabrielle Snyder started the game for Dayton, throwing 4.2 innings. She struck out four and walked one while giving up five earned runs on 11 hits. Sophomore Emily Froment threw two outs of middle relief.

Lore was again the winner in the second game, working the final 3.2 innings. She recorded two strikeouts to two walks and gave up one earned run on  five hits. Laney Knieb started the game in the circle for the Billikens, working 4.1 innings. She struck out one to four walks and gave up five earned runs on eight hits.

The Flyers return to action this weekend as they travel to Amherst, Mass., to square off against Massachusetts in A-10 action. The doubleheader between UD and UMass is set to get started at noon Saturday at UMass Softball Complex.