March 10, 2004

Final Stats

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Saint Louis University baseball lost its second-straight game with a 7-4 defeat at Southeast Missouri State this afternoon. The Billikens (4-8) jumped out to an early lead but were knocked off by SEMO's five runs in the bottom of the eight. Senior Drew Eder led the offense with a pair of RBI, while three other Billikens recorded two hits in the outing.

Senior Kyle Wort started the scoring with his two-out single that plated Scott Peden from second. After stealing second, Wort scored on Eder's single for a quick 2-0 lead. Sophomore Eric Mueller's first career home run made it 3-0 in the top of the second. The Indians broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning when Bo Jenkins' single to center drove in Frankie Montiel, who had led off the inning with a double. Saint Louis erased the cut into its lead in the top of the third as Peden scored after leading off the inning with a double to right. SEMO cut into the lead again with a run in the bottom of the fourth on Montiel's second double of the game.

With a 4-2 margin, Billiken starter Ryan Bird was cruising. The freshman had given up just four hits through four innings and struck out four. After continuing his efficiency in the fifth and sixth innings, he turned the game over to sophomore Eric Rohr. In just his second appearance of the season after missing the fall with an injury, Rohr struck out two in the seventh before running into trouble in the eighth.

The Indians opened the pivotal eighth inning with a Aaron Fangman home run to cut the lead to 4-3. When Ernie Bracamonte singled to center, the Billikens went to senior Dave Guntorius out of the bullpen. The right-hander retired the next batter, but saw Bracamonte score on Montiel's triple to tie the game. Montiel scored two batters later on Bryan Kurt's single to give the Indians all the lead they would need. Jenkins punctuated the inning with a two-run home run for the decisive 7-4 margin. The Billikens got a pair of runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth, but reliever Brad Smith retired the final batter to collect his third win of the season.

The Billikens return home for a three-game series against UW-Milwaukee this weekend. The series opens at 2 p.m. on Fri., March 12, with Saturday and Sunday games beginning at 1 p.m.