April 14, 2006

Box Score

CINCINNATI - Saint Louis pounded out 13 hits and backed it up with flawless defense to pick up a 10-2 victory at Xavier in Atlantic 10 baseball action this afternoon at Hayden Field. Eight of the Billikens' nine starters delivered at least one hit, led by three from Greg Rodgers, and senior Johnny Sweeney drove in a game-high three runs. Freshman Dave Sever collected his fourth win of the season as he allowed just two runs on seven hits in seven innings.

After the Billikens left the bases loaded in the top of the first, Xavier's Neil Lindgren opened the bottom of the inning with a home run to left. SLU got the equalizer in the second after Tim Landy led off with a walk and moved to second on Ziggy Moore's single up the middle. The first of four Xavier errors loaded the bases for Jon Guyre. A double play ball allowed Landy to score, but kept the Billikens from doing significant damage in the inning.

A hit batter and another error helped the Bills take the lead in the third with Bill Musselman delivering an RBI single to left. Landy drew another walk to load the bases, and Moore made it a 3-1 game with a sacrifice fly to center. Lindgren cut the lead to 3-2 with another solo home run in the bottom of the third only to see the Billikens answer with two more runs in the top of the fourth against XU reliever Matt Lucas. Guyre led off with a double to center and moved to third on Gilbert Marlowe's single to left. Rodgers plated Guyre with a single to right, and Sweeney brought Marlowe in with a single through the right side. Another double-play ball held the lead at 5-2.

Guyre opened a three-run sixth with a single to left and moved to third on Ryan Crespi's ground ball. After Marlowe drew a walk, Rodgers picked up his second RBI with a single down the right field line. Sweeney added an RBI on a ground ball, and Musselman's double to left center plated him from first and also sent Xavier back to the bullpen for Mark Janszen to close out the inning.

The Billiken offense went back to work in the eighth as Crespi led off with a walk and stole second. After Rodgers walked, Sweeney made it a 9-2 lead with a double down the left field line. David Hartman replaced Janszen on the mound and walked Musselman to load the bases with one out. Hartman threw out Rodgers at the plate on Landy's ground ball back to the mound, but an error allowed Sweeney to score on the play for the final margin.

Junior Eric Rohr took over for Sever in the eighth inning, working around a pair of singles in the eighth and inducing the school-record tying fifth double play of the game to wrap up the ninth.

With the win, the Billikens improve to 18-14 overall and 7-3 in A-10 play. XU starter Mike Lucas took the loss as the Musketeers fell to 10-25 on the season and 2-8 in league play.

The two teams are set to square off again on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.