May 2, 2006

Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Junior Brock Hewitt pitched Saint Louis' third-straight complete game to guide the Billikens to a 6-3 victory at Eastern Illinois this afternoon. Freshman Tom Pinnell drove in three of the Bills' six runs as SLU (23-21) out-hit the Panthers 12-6 on the afternoon. Hewitt gave up just two earned runs on six hits and struck out four without issuing a walk in his first career complete game.

The Billikens went to work at the plate right away in the top of the first. Ryan Crespi slapped a single to left field and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. After EIU starter Erick Huber recorded the inning's second out, he issued a walk to Greg Rodgers to set up catcher Bill Musselman, who ripped a double to left center for the first run of the game. Gilbert Marlowe drew a walk to load the bases, and Tim Landy was hit by a pitch to drive in the second run. With the bases still loaded, Pinnell drove a double to left center for a 4-0 Billiken lead before Huber closed the inning with his third strikeout.

Given the early lead, Hewitt had little trouble with the Panther offense, allowing just two hits through the first five innings. An error to open the bottom of the sixth was erased when Musselman threw out Blake Meyer trying to steal second. Hewitt fanned Adam Varrasi for the second out, but saw Brett Nommensen single to left and score on Mark Chgnon's double, the only extra-base hit Hewitt yielded in the game. Having moved to the DH spot in favor of reliever Ryan Parson in the top of the sixth, Huber cut into the Billiken lead again with an RBI single through the left side for a 4-2 margin.

The two-run lead expanded back to four in the top of the seventh as Crespi led off with a single then stole second on reliever Mike Manns, who had just come into the game. Johnny Sweeney pushed Crespi to third with a fly ball to right center, and Rodgers picked up the RBI on a single to right. Musselman and Marlowe followed with singles to load the bases for Landy. A wild pitch moved Musselman and Marlowe up a base, but Rodgers was thrown out heading for home. After Landy drew a walk to re-load the bases, the Panthers again went to the bullpen. The result was the same, however, as Chris Vaculik issued a walk to Pinnell for the freshman's third RBI of the game, which put the Bills in front 6-2.

EIU looked to capitalize on a hit batter and an error in the bottom of the seventh, but Hewitt recovered from the unearned run to close out the inning with a 6-3 lead. The right-hander went on to retire the Panthers in order in the eighth and ninth innings to collect his third win of the season.

Musselman and Marlowe tied for game-high honors with three hits apiece, while Crespi and Pinnell were just behind with two each. For EIU, only Casey Spears posted multiple hits with two.

The Billikens return to Atlantic 10 Conference action this weekend at George Washington. The three-game series begins on Fri., May 5, at 4 p.m. (CT). Saturday and Sunday games are scheduled for Noon (CT).