Feb. 28, 2006

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis sophomore Greg Rodgers' four hits and four RBI powered the Billikens to an 8-3 victory over Bradley this afternoon at The Billiken Sports Center. SLU (1-5) exploded for 14 hits in the game to back the pitching of freshman starter Dave Sever who did not allow an earned run in 6-2/3 innings.

In his first career start, Sever was sharp early, striking out three hitters in the first two innings. A leadoff single up the middle in the top of the third coupled with a pair of errors allowed the Braves to get on the board first. The Billikens answered immediately with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. Ryan Crespi singled through the left side and moved to second when Johnny Sweeney laid bunt single down the third base line. Rodgers brought both runners home with a double down the right field line for a 2-1 lead before Braves starter Rob Scahill closed out the inning.

After Crespi's diving grab in right field ended a Bradley threat in the top of the fifth, the Billikens carried the momentum into the bottom of the inning, scoring two more runs. Crespi again got things going with a single to center, moved to second when Sweeney drew a walk and came home on Rodgers' single through the right side. After Sweeney took third on a failed pickoff attempt, Gilbert Marlowe lifted a sacrifice fly to right to make it a 4-1 lead.

With the help of another Billiken error, the Braves finally got to Sever in the top of the seventh. A leadoff single from Peter Malinowski appeared to be for naught as Sever retired the next two hitters and got Zach Norris to hit a ground ball, but the error extended the inning. With runners on the corner, Dan Brewer roped a single down the right field line to bring Malinowki home. Brad Jones put a single in right field to plate Norris and cut the Billiken lead to 4-3. Senior Etienne Ratte-Delorme took over for Sever on the mound and closed out the inning before the Braves could seize the lead.

Ratte-Delorme worked around a hit batter and a walk in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for the Billikens' big inning. Pinch hitter Tim Landy (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet) led off with a walk and moved to third on Tom Pinnell's single up the middle. Freshman Matt Mach drove a single through the right side to plate Landy with his first career RBI. Jon Guyre roped a double to left to move Mach to third and set up Crespi's two-run single to right center. Rodgers pushed the lead to 8-3 with another two-out RBI double. The Billikens brought in closer B.J. Rodrigue to wrap up the ninth inning and deliver the Bills' first win of the season.

In addition to Rodgers' four hits, the Billikens got three from Crespi and two each from Sweeney and Pinnell. Sever picked up the win in his first career start, striking out four and allowing just six hits in 6-2/3 innings. Scahill took the loss for Bradley, yielding three earned runs on seven hits in five innings.

SLU returns to the field on Wed., Mar. 1, at 3 p.m. against Indiana State at The Billiken Sports Center.