April 18, 2000

Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Saint Louis University baseball dropped a 4-2 decision to Evansville this afternoon after out-hitting the Purple Aces 6-5. A three-run sixth inning was too much for the Billikens (15-22) to overcome. Saint Louis starter Jason Schlautman (Chestefield, Mo./DeSmet) lasted 5-1/3 innings allowing just five hits but four runs, three earned.

The Billikens were on the board first when Joe Boyer (St. Louis, Mo./Hillsboro) hit a single to leftfield that scored Nick Steiner (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) in the top of the second inning. Schlautman retired the Purple Aces in order in the bottom of the frame and up leadoff singles before retiring the side in the third and fourth innings. The junior righthander got into trouble in the fifth when a hit batter, a walk and a passed ball allowed Evansville to tie the game.

Saint Louis went down in order in the top of the sixth, but the Purple Aces were not as obliging. Runners stood on first and third after a leadoff walk, a hit batter and a sacrifice bunt. Brian Wegman and Ryan Connors hit back-to-back RBI singles to put the Purple Aces up 3-1. Schlautman hit his fourth batter of the afternoon before Brad Wehrfritz (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) came on in relief to retire the side.

The Billikens added a run in the eighth on a bases loaded sacrifice fly from Jim Bredenkoetter (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet). Steiner came to the plate with two out and the bases still loaded, but flied out to centerfield to end the threat. John McLaughlin (Glencoe, Mo./Eureka) led off the ninth with a single, but a double play erased his effort and the Billikens could not rally.

Saint Louis is back in action Wed., April 19 with a 7 p.m. game at Southwest Missouri State before returning to The Billiken Sports Center for a weekend Conference USA series with Louisville.