March 17, 2000
Box Score
CINCINNATI - Saint Louis University baseball dropped its Conference USA opener 17-16 at Cincinnati this afternoon after yielding a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth. Trailing 15-11 going into the final frame, Nick Steiner's solo home run sparked a five-run inning as the Billikens took a 16-15 lead. Freshman Jacob Baumgartner came in to close out the game with one out and two on, but struggled with his control and walked in the tying and winning runs.
The Billikens scored in each of the first three innings as Steiner drove in Brian Haddock to open the game. Third baseman Jim Bredenkoetter homered in the second and drove in another run in the third as Saint Louis took a quick 4-0 lead. The Bearcats answered with four runs in the bottom of the third. After being held scoreless in the fourth, Saint Louis put three runs on the board in the fifth and four runs on in the sixth. A change in pitchers held the Billikens at bay for the next two innings before the pivotal ninth frame.
Steiner's home run was the Billikens' third of the game, the team's first hat trick of the season. Adam Shea hit a triple to center and John McLaughlin followed it with a single to short. Pinch hitter Jeremiah Harrington walked to load the bases with no outs. Bredenkoetter singled to right to plate Shea and McLaughlin and put pinch runner Chad Wrinkle on third. Shortstop Paul Miles drove in Wrinkle, but Bredenkeotter was out at second. A stolen base and wild pitch later, Miles stood at third for Eric Constableto drive in with a sacrifice fly. Haddock ended the inning with deep fly to left.
Saint Louis' Jason Schlautman came in for the Bearcats' last shot and retired the first batter. The junior walked the next Bearcat and gave up a single to put runners on the corners with one out. Brad Wehrfritz took over the mound and walked the only batter he faced. Head coach Bob Hughes went to the bullpen again for Baumgartner who proceeded to walk in the last two runs.
Schlautman took the loss for Saint Louis (5-10, 0-1 C-USA) while Kyle DiEduardo (1-0) earned the win for Cincinnati. The two teams pick up the series tomorrow afternoon at noon at Johnny Bench Field in Cincinnati.
