Cougars Shred Billikens 15-4

April 29, 2000

ST. LOUIS - The Houston Cougars recorded at least one run in every inning except the third en route to a 15-4 victory over Saint Louis University in Conference USA baseball action this afternoon at The Billiken Sports Center. A five-run seventh put the game out of reach as the Cougars posted 21 hits, including four home runs and five of the game's eight triples.

The Billikens fall to 17-28 overall, 5-15 in C-USA. Nationally-ranked Houston improves to 31-14, 14-4 in the league.

Saint Louis starter Wes Jaillet (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) walked the first batter of the game, which led to the Cougars' first run, but looked solid through the first four innings. The Billiken offense provided the support last night's pitcher needed as the Billiken were up 2-1 after the first inning. Nick Steiner (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) recorded both of his RBI on a one-out single in the bottom of the first as the Billikens put three hits on UH starter Shane Nance right off the bat.

The Cougars responded with a run in the top of the second to tie the game before the scoreless third inning. UH took the lead in the top of the fourth with a two-out double from Aaron Melebeck. The visitors added a pair in the top of the fifth to go up 5-2. The Billikens answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning after Jim Bredenkoetter (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet) led off with a triple to right center and came home on Adam Shea's (Chesterfield, Mo./DeSmet) sacrifice fly. Steiner recorded the first of his two doubles in the game and scored on a single from rightfielder John McLaughlin (Glencoe, Mo./Eureka).

Brad Wehrfritz (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) came on in relief of Jaillet and gave up two runs in the top of the sixth before the five-run seventh gave Houston a commanding 12-4 lead. Tyson Schweitzer hit a three-run homer, one of four for the Cougars, as part of the barrage.

Jaillet took the loss for the Billikens to fall to 3-5 on the season while Nance got the win, despite giving up all four runs, for the Cougars.

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