April 30, 2006

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Senior Tim Landy's first career home run was a three-run shot in the fourth inning to propel Saint Louis to a 4-3 victory over Charlotte this afternoon at Tom and Lib Phillips Field. Coupled with Saturday's 4-1 victory, the win gave the Billikens (22-21, 10-8 A-10) their first series win over the 49ers (29-14-1, 13-5 A-10) since the teams began playing each other in 1996.

The 49ers took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Cory Lane led off with a walk and Chris Taylor moved him to second with a single up the middle. Chris Lane laid down a sacrifice, and Kris Rochelle plated the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to center. Adam Floyd made it a 2-0 game with a single to left before SLU starter Eric Rohr closed out the inning.

SLU got some offense going in the fourth as Johnny Sweeney led off with a walk and moved to third on Greg Rodgers' single through the left side. Gilbert Marlowe plated Sweeney with a ground out to the left side. After Casey Moore was hit by a pitch, Landy sent the second pitch from Charlotte starter Keith Moreland down the right field line and over the wall to put the Bills up 4-2.

Charlotte drew within a run in the bottom of the sixth when Spencer Steedley opened the inning with a double down the right field line and scored on Taylor's sacrifice fly. Rohr retired the 49ers in order in the seventh and worked around an error in the eighth to hold onto his 4-3 lead. Looking for a comeback similar to Friday night's games, the 49ers started a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth. Adam Floyd single up the middle, the first hit Rohr allowed since the sixth, and pinch runner John Stallings moved to second when Aaron Bray drew a walk. Rohr needed just four pitches to record his fourth strikeout of the game and wrap up his second complete game of the season.

Rohr improved to 3-1 on the season, while Moreland was saddled with his first loss of the season, falling to 6-1. Charlotte out-hit the Billikens 7-6 in the game as Steedley and Floyd each recorded a pair of hits. Landy's three RBI were a game high and tied his career high as well.

The Billikens are back in action on Tue., May 2, in a 3 p.m. game at Eastern Illinois. SLU then wraps up its eight-game road tour with a three-game A-10 series at George Washington next weekend.