May 14, 2006

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - In the first true pitchers' duel of the series, Saint Louis picked up a 4-2 win over Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10 series finale at The Billiken Sports Center. Junior Eric Rohr limited the Rams (31-12, 16-6 A-10) to just two runs and one extra-base hit in his third complete game of the season. The Billikens (27-23, 14-10 A-10) strung together eight singles in the game and capitalized on a first-inning error by the Rams to build a three run lead early.

Senior Jon Guyre opened the first inning with an infield single and moved to second on Ryan Crespi's sacrifice. URI starter James Norcott walked Johnny Sweeney ahead of a fielding error that loaded the bases. In a repeat from Saturday, a wild pitch plated the game's first run and moved Sweeney and Rodgers up a base as well. Bill Musselman drew a walk to again load the bases, and Tim Landy ripped a two-out single into center field for a 3-0 lead.

The Rams came right back in the top of the second as Zach Zaneski led off with a single up the middle and moved to third on a pair of ground-ball outs. After Mike O'Malley was hit by a pitch, Dave Savard lifted a fly ball to left center that carried in the wind for a triple to cut the Billiken lead to 3-2. Rohr preserved his lead with a ground ball to first to retire Daryl Holcomb.

Both pitchers settled in and controlled the next five innings, allowing a combined five hits over the span, until the Billikens tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. Landy worked a walk to start the inning, and B.J. Rodrigue beat out a bunt to put two on with no outs. Guyre plated Landy from second with a one-out single to center, but Rodrigue was thrown out trying to get to third. Norcott closed out the inning with a ground ball.

The Billikens made noise with a pair of hits again in the eighth, but reliever Jamie Degidio kept his team within two runs for the ninth. Gregg Allen stroked a single to right center to kick off the inning, but pinch-runner Chris Parkinson was erased on a fielder's choice that just missed getting Josh Nestor at first with the double play. Rohr won the battle with O'Malley, however, getting the shortstop to ground to Rodrigue at third to start the 5-4-3 game-ending double play.

Rohr improved to 4-1 with the victory, while Norcott fell to 3-4 on the season, despite recording six strikeouts and allowing just two earned runs on six hits in seven innings of work. Guyre, Musselman and Rodrigue each posted a pair of hits for SLU, as did URI's Allen and Shaun Hagey. Landy and Savard tied for game-high honors with two RBI apiece.

Saint Louis will play its final non-conference game of the season on Tue., May 16, at Southeast Missouri State. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.