Notre Dame grad Burger wraps up college softball season with family

Kristain Burger didn't have one of her better days at the plate, but she still enjoyed her visit to Cape Girardeau.

Burger, a Notre Dame Regional High School graduate, is a junior first baseman for the Saint Louis University softball team that ended its season Wednesday by splitting a doubleheader at Southeast Missouri State.

Burger, playing in front of about 15 family members, started both games and went 0 for 2 in both contests.

"Nobody wants to end like that, but that's the game of softball," Burger said.

The good-natured Burger still was all smiles as she prepared to greet her family.

"It's been a while since I've seen them," said Burger, from the Kelso-New Hamburg area. "I have a big family. They're so supportive."

Burger, who started 47 of SLU's 53 games this season, saw her average dip to .216. But she led the Billikens (29-24) with five home runs while adding eight doubles and 14 RBIs.

Burger is tied for ninth on SLU's single-season home run list and tied for third in hit by pitches with 12.

Burger is tied for sixth in program history with eight career home runs, and her 13 times hit by a pitch are tied for fifth.

Defensively, Burger ranks among SLU's top 10 for single-season and career putouts and chances.

Burger had 20 starts last year and made 38 starts as a freshman in 2008. She spent 2009 as a medical redshirt following knee surgery.

"I absolutely love it [at SLU]," said Burger, who has been on the Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.

While Burger went hitless Wednesday, she homered against Southeast on March 5 when the Bills beat the Redhawks 8-3 during a tournament hosted by SLU. She also homered against the Redhawks during a game in the fall.

"Pretty cool," she said.

Burger, who still has another season of eligibility at SLU, will graduate May 18 with a nursing degree.

"Hopefully I'll start graduate school next year," said Burger, who plans to finish her career with the Bills in 2012.

Burger was a three-time all-stater at Notre Dame. She set school records in every single-season offensive category except stolen bases as a senior, batting .543 with nine homers, 55 RBIs, four triples, a 1.033 slugging percentage and a .644 on-base percentage.

"I miss home, but it [SLU] is like a second home," said the 6-foot Burger, also a basketball standout at Notre Dame. "It's been great there."