April 16, 2000

Box Score

TAMPA - Saint Louis University baseball won the final game of its Conference USA weekend series 9-7 over South Florida this afternoon at Red McEwen Field. Nick Steiner's (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) two-out, two-RBI double highlighted a four-run fourth that propelled the Billikens to the win. Sophomore reliever Wes Jaillet (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) pitched 3-1/3 scoreless innings and struck out four to earn the victory.

The offense was cranked early for the Billikens when a leadoff single and a walk led to two RBI for Adam Shea (Chesterfield, Mo./DeSmet) when he singled in the top of the first. Saint Louis put another run up in the second when John McLaughlin's (Glencoe, Mo./Eureka) leadoff single put him on to later score on a passed ball. The Bulls scored twice in the bottom of the inning, but the Billikens answered with a sacrifice fly from Steiner to extend the lead to 4-2.

Saint Louis built what seemed to be a comfortable 8-2 lead in the top of the fourth a sacrifice fly from Brian Haddock (St. Louis, Mo./SLUH), an RBI double by Jim Bredenkoetter (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet) and Steiner's two-out, two-RBI double. The Billikens drew three walks in the inning from USF reliever Shannon Royal, two of which scored. The Bulls were not finished, however, and came back with three runs in the bottom of the frame to pull with three at 8-5. Haddock added a leadoff home run to rightfield to open the sixth and give Saint Louis a little insurance.

Freshman Dan Parker (Ballwin, Mo./SLUH) came on in the eighth to close the game when the Bulls rallied again. Back-to-back singles opened the inning and a run scored on an error. A sacrifice fly later the Bulls were within two and had a runner on third, but Parker got Mike Eylward to strike out looking and forced a ground ball for the third out. In the ninth, Parker was unfazed by a leadoff single and the Billikens' third error of the game as he closed the outing with a doubleplay ball to preserve the win.

The Billikens (15-21, 4-11 C-USA) are back in action on Tue., April 18, at 3 p.m. at Evansville.