February 27, 2000
Box Score
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University baseball played the second of a two-game series at Oral Roberts this afternoon, falling to the Golden Eagles 9-7. The Billikens (0-5) lost the first game played last night 8-7. Junior third baseman Jim Bredenkoetter (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet) recorded a pair of RBI in both games.
In today's contest, the Billikens gave up two runs in the bottom of the first, but answered with five crossing the plate in the top of the third. After drawing a walk, junior shortstop Paul Miles (St. Louis, Mo./Jefferson College) crossed the plate after an error by the Golden Eagles' second baseman. A double steal put Billikens at second and third and ORU walked power-hitter Nick Steiner (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) to load the bases. Bredenkoetter put one through the left side to drive in a pair of runs and give SLU a 3-2 edge. Catcher Adam Shea (Chesterfield, Mo./DeSmet) lined a double to left center to score Steiner and Bredenkoetter crossed on an error by the catcher.
ORU moved runners efficiently around the bases for another two-run inning in the bottom of the third before Saint Louis again made some noise in the top of the fifth. After hitting a one-out single, Bredenkoetter scored on a wild pitch to extend the Billiken lead to 6-4. A two-out single from rightfielder John McLaughlin (Glencoe, Mo./Eureka) drove in SLU's final run of the game. The Golden Eagles answered the Billiken offense with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at seven.
Starting pitcher Ryan Warnecke (Highland, Ill./Belleville Area College) lasted six innings before turning the tie over to freshman Zach Placzek (Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep). Placzek got the lead-off man to ground out, but hit Ryan Neill with a pitch to put a man on base. Neill stole second and would score on a two-out single by Bryan Gann to give ORU the 8-7 lead. Billiken closer Wes Jaillet (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) took over one batter into the eighth inning, allowing Placzek's lead-off walk to score for the file 9-7 score.
ORU's Jordan Gerk (2-1) got the win, while Placzek (0-1) took the loss for the Billikens.
Saint Louis plays its home opener this Wed., Mar. 1 at 3 p.m. at the Billiken Sports Center against Eastern Illinois.
