April 29, 2006

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Saint Louis generated just enough offense to back the precision pitching of junior Ryan Bird to pick up a 4-1 win at Charlotte this afternoon in Atlantic 10 baseball action at Tom and Lib Phillips Field. Bird allowed just four hits and the one unearned run in his fourth complete game of the season. Greg Rodgers generated what proved to be the winning run on a two-run home run in the sixth, his fourth round-tripper of the season.

Bird worked around a pair of walks in the first and a single in the second as neither team generated much offense early. The 49ers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as O'Brien Taylor ripped a one-out double to left and moved to third on a passed ball. Mike Ambrose plated the game's first run with a sacrifice fly before Bird got Spencer Steeldey to fly out down the left field line to end the inning.

Adam Mills held the Billiken offense in check, allowing just four hits through the first five innings and was on the same track in the sixth. Ryan Crespi legged out an infield single, keeping with the Billikens' trend of a single an inning over the previous four frames. After Mills recorded the second out of the inning, Rodgers pounded his home run to right center to give SLU a 2-1 lead. Taylor opened the bottom of the sixth with a double down the left field line, but Bird recovered to retire the next three hitters and hold his lead.

SLU added two more runs in the top of the eight, beginning with Crespi's double to right center. Bill Musselman trade placed with him on a double down the right field line, which sent the 49ers to the bullpen for Kyle Pfirrman. The freshman left-hander saw Musselman advance to third on a wild pitch and walked Rodgers to put runners on the corners for Johnny Sweeney. The Billikens' senior left fielder lined a sacrifice fly to left to make it a 4-1 game.

The Billikens looked for more in the top of the ninth as Tim Landy led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on Tom Pinnell's sacrifice. Charlotte went back to the bullpen for freshman right-hander Zach Rosenbaum, who got a ground ball from Matt Mach. An error on the play put runners on the corners with just one out. Jon Guyre sent a ground ball back to the pitcher, who threw out Landy racing for home, and Crespi flied out to left field to end the threat.

Bird did not need the insurance, however, as he shut down the 49ers in order in the bottom of the frame to collect his fifth win of the season. Bird allowed just four hits in the outing, a Billiken season-low, and struck out two 49ers. Mills took the loss, falling to 6-3 on the season, as he allowed four runs on nine hits and struck out six in 7-1/3 innings.

Rodgers led all hitters with a perfect 3-for-3 afternoon and two RBI. Taylor was the lone 49er with multiple hits with a pair of doubles.

The two teams will decide the series with a final game on Sun., Apr. 30, at 11 a.m. (CT).