May 16, 2006

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis jumped out to a 4-0 lead early but stumbled late in a 7-6 loss at Southeast Missouri State this afternoon. In their final non-conference tilt, the Billikens (27-24) scored two runs in each of the first two innings, including a two-run home run from Greg Rodgers before the Redhawks clawed their way back into the game with three unearned runs in the third. A well-placed bunt in the bottom of the eighth plated the winning run for SEMO (18-30), spoiling a 13-hit afternoon for the Billikens.

After Rodgers' two-out home run, his fifth long-ball of the season, the Billikens put together three hits in the second to plate two more runs. B.J. Rodrigue picked up the first RBI on a double down the left field line, and Jon Guyre made it a 4-0 lead on a single up the middle before the Redhawks turned an inning-ending double play.

Lance Rhodes forced SEMO to leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, but the Redhawks broke through in the third. Facing the third Billiken pitcher of the afternoon, the home team capitalized on a Billiken error with two outs in the inning. With two men on, Andrew Graham roped a double to right center, cutting the Billiken lead in half. Daryl Graham then ripped a single to center to narrow the gap to 4-3 before Corey Tyberendt closed out the inning. A pair of single and a sacrifice fly off Dan Cowsert knotted the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth.

The Billikens looked to regain the lead in the top of the fifth with three-straight two-out singles, but SEMO left fielder Dustin Pritchett gunned down Jon Guyre first home run of the season opened the seventh, pushing the Billiken lead to 6-4.

A leadoff single from Pritchett in the bottom of the seventh was erased with a double-play ball off the bat of Andrew Graham, but Daryl Graham worked a walk from Etienne Ratte-Delorme after falling behind in the count early. Aaron Rave dropped a single in left field, and Daniel Schuh brought both men home with a double down the left field line to tie the score at 6-6.

Following a 1-2-3 retiring of the Billikens in the top of the eighth, SEMO opened the home half of the inning with a Chris Gibson double to left, and a sacrifice moved him to third. Jordan Payne stepped to the plate and laid down a bunt that got past the pitcher's mound toward second base. With the infield on the move to cover the runner coming home, the placement gave Gibson time to race home and left Payne on second base with a double.

With Gilbert Marlowe moved him into scoring position with a pinch-hit single. The Redhawks turned to their ace, Jamie McAlister, to end the threat, which he did with a fly ball, a strikeout and a ground out to collect his second save of the season.

Andrew Graham earned the win for SEMO, his first decision of the season, while Mueller fell to 0-2 with the loss. For SLU, Rodrigue's three hits were a game high, tying Schuch's effort for SEMO. Guyre, Rodgers and Rodrigue added two RBI apiece to the SLU offensive effort as well.

The Billikens close out their regular season with a three-game Atlantic 10 Conference series at Dayton beginning Thu., May 18, at 1:30 p.m (CT).