March 24, 2006

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Walks and errors spelled defeat for Saint Louis as the Billikens dropped their Atlantic 10 Conference opener 14-2 to Richmond this afternoon at The Billiken Sports Center. The Spiders (6-12, 1-0 A-10) pushed seven runs across in the second inning, helped by three walks and pair of errors. The Billikens (8-10, 0-1 A-10) avoided the shutout with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

SLU starter Ryan Bird struck out the Spiders' leadoff hitter to open the game but saw a double, a single and a fielder's choice put the Spiders on top 1-0. An infield single and an error opened the second frame for Richmond before Bird fanned Victor Croglio for the first out. The junior right-hander, who hadn't walked a batter in 15-2/3 innings coming into the game, issued a free pass to the next three hitters, including one to Ben Zeskind with the bases loaded for a 2-0 deficit. Two infield singles, a wild pitch and another error brought three more runs in. Alex Hale lifted a fly ball to right to drive in the inning's seventh run before Billiken catcher Bill Musselman ended the inning by gunning down Cameron Brown trying to steal second.

As Richmond starter Rob Berzinskas continued to retire the Billikens in order in the bottom of the inning, the Spiders tacked on three more runs on four hits, including Andrew Justice's two-run single, in the third inning on reliever Justin Wise. After enduring the difficulty in his first inning of work, Wise kept the Spiders off the board in the fourth and fifth innings.

Senior Tim Landy recorded the Billikens' first hit of the day with a double in the bottom of the fifth, but he was left stranded. The Spiders rediscovered their offense against Wise in the top of the sixth, opening the inning with a single, a double and an RBI single from Austin Reilly. Croglio drove in a run on a ground out, and Ben Zeskind's bases loaded single up the middle plated the Spiders' final run.

SLU threatened in the bottom of the sixth as Berzinskas began to labor. Ziggy Moore started things off with a single through the left side and moved to third after a pair of pinch hitters drew walks to load the bases with two outs. Berzinskas recorded the last of his six strikeouts on the day to keep the Bills off the board.

In the bottom of the seventh, Landy was hit by a pitch and moved to third when B.J. Rodrigue and Casey Moore both drew walks. Richmond went to the bullpen for Kyle Leith, but the freshman could not hold the shutout. SLU sophomore Lance Rhodes drove a single just past the diving shortstop to plate Landy. Matt Mach grounded into a double play, but Rodrigue was able to score on the play, cutting the lead to 14-2 before Leith struck out the final hitter to end the game.

Berzinskas improved to 3-1 on the season with the win as he allowed two runs on two hits and struck out six in six innings. Bird fell to 2-4 on the year after three earned runs scored on five hits in two innings. Cameron Brown led all hitters with three hits, while Zeskind recorded a game-high three RBI.

The two teams continue their three-game series on Sat., Mar. 25, at 1 p.m.