April 16, 2003

Final Stats

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University baseball picked up its second-straight win this evening with a 5-1 decision at Bradley. The Billikens (13-18, 3-12 C-USA) out-hit the Braves 10-4 as freshman hurler Eric Rohr picked up the win in his first career start. The right-hander allowed just three his in seven innings on the mound and got plenty of run support as five different Billikens recorded RBI in the game.

The Billikens offense got things going early when freshman Johnny Sweeney's triple to center eluded a diving Steve Strickler to drive in junior Aaron Thompson, who reached on a single up the middle. Sweeney scored two batters later when junior Don Rogers poked one through the left side of the infield, giving the Billikens a quick 2-0 lead.

Rohr retired the Braves in order in the first two innings, but gave up a single to lead off the third. The first of three Billiken errors on the evening put the second batter on base. A sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly allowed the Braves to cut the lead in half before SLU recorded the third out.

A hit and an error in the bottom of the fourth looked like trouble for Rohr again, but the freshman struck out Jason Morelock and got Brad Canada to ground out to end the threat. Braves starter Brad Garrett was equally effective after the first inning, before a leadoff walk to senior Corey Lawson opened the top of the sixth. After stealing second, Lawson advanced to third on Rogers' ground out. Senior Steve Moss picked up the RBI on a single to first. He advanced to second on a throwing error and scored when the next batter Ryan Murphy drove a single to center field. A double play ended the inning, but the Bills had rebuilt their lead to 4-1.

The three-run lead was all Rohr needed as he continued to stymie Bradley hitters. SLU added another run in the top of the seventh as freshman Kurt Struckhoff took over for Rohr in the eighth inning and allowed the Braves no relief as he allowed just one hit over the last two innings of the victory.

Rohr picked up his first career victory after allowing three hits and issuing just one walk in seven innings of work. Offensively, Thompson, Sweeney and Murphy each recorded a pair of hits with each accounting for one of the Billikens' three extra-base hits.

The Billikens return to action this weekend with a three-game series at Houston. The first game is slated for 7 p.m. on Fri., Apr. 18.