April 2, 2000

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University baseball handed Southern Miss its first conference loss this afternoon with an 8-4 victory in Conference USA baseball action at The Billiken Sports Center. After scoring just two runs on 10 hits in the previous two contests, the Billikens (11-15, 3-6 C-USA) came alive in the fourth inning and did not let up on three Golden Eagle pitchers. Eight of nine Billiken batters had at least one hit with Mike Orrico (Boca Raton, Fla./Olympic Heights) and Brandon Shockley (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) each recording a pair of RBI. Saint Louis freshman Zach Placzek (Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep) posted his second complete game victory in three starts.

Southern Miss jumped out to an early lead, scoring one run in the top of the first. The Bills threatened in the bottom of the inning as the bases were loaded with one out for Orrico, but the designated hitter lined into a double play. Neither team recorded a hit in the next two frames before USM added another run in the top of the fourth.

Golden Eagle starter Charlie Rogers struggled in the fourth as the previously quiet Billiken bats finally found their stroke. Adam Shea (Chesterfield, Mo./DeSmet) led off with a single and two walks later the bases were loaded for Shockley. Shea scored on a wild pitch, leaving runners on second and third and the Billiken third baseman drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Paul Miles (St. Louis, Mo./Jefferson College) laid down a two-out single to push Jim Bredenkoetter (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet) to third allowing him to score on an error by the Golden Eagle third baseman to put Saint Louis up 3-2.

USM reclaimed the lead in the fifth, scoring a pair of runs on three hits, but the Saint Louis offense was not finished. Wes Sells came on in relief of Rogers, lasting just four batters as he gave up a single to Nick Steiner (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) and RBI singles to Orrico and Bredenkoetter. Colby Calcote replaced Sells with one out. Shockley reached on an error, allowing Bredenkoetter to score the third run of the inning.

Saint Louis added single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to provide insurance that would prove to be unneeded. Placzek gave up just four runs on the afternoon, walking two and striking out seven to improve to 2-1 on the season. Sells took the loss for USM.

The Billikens travel to Missouri on Tue., Apr. 4 for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Tigers.