May 6, 2006

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Early offense and clutch late pitching generated a 4-3 Saint Louis victory over George Washington this afternoon at Barcroft Park. The Billikens (25-21, 12-8 A-10) scored three runs in the first and held off a ninth-inning charge from George Washington for the second-straight day as junior Brock Hewitt picked up his first career save in relief of Ryan Bird, who collected his career-best sixth win of the season with six strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Ryan Crespi and Johnny Sweeney got the offense going with back-to-back one-out singles in the first, putting runners on the corners for clean-up hitter Greg Rodgers. The sophomore designated hitter drove a single through the right side, and junior Bill Musselman made it a 2-0 lead with a ground ball to the right side. Gilbert Marlowe picked up the Bills' only extra-base hit with a double to center to score Rodgers from second for a 3-0 margin. GW starter Josh Wilkie walked Tim Landy to leave runners on the corners again, but got Tom Pinnell to pop up to the shortstop to close out the inning.

Bird worked around a single in each of the first two innings before the Colonials pushed a run across on three hits in the bottom of the third. Michael Parker led off with a double down the left field line and moved to third on Mickey Shupin's sacrifice. Charlie Kruer legged out an infield single to the right side put the Colonials on the board. After Bird walked Tom Shanley, Doug Eizen picked up an infield single to load the bases with just one out. The Billikens' veteran pitcher got Matt Owens to tap one back to the mound where Bird started an inning-ending double play.

Both teams were quiet offensively over the next two innings, but the Billikens tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Pinnell and Jon Guyre started things off with a pair of one-out singles, although Guyre was thrown out on Crespi's fielder's choice. Sweeney lined a single back to the pitcher to plate Pinnell with what would prove to be the winning run.

After George Washington left two stranded in the bottom of the sixth, the Colonials opened the seventh with a single from Parker. Shupin followed with a double to centerfield, which cut the Billiken lead to 4-2. The Billikens retired Shupin on the play as he headed for third, and Bird ended the threat with a fly ball and his sixth strikeout of the afternoon.

Hewitt took over in the eighth and went through the Colonials in order, including a pair of strikeouts on called strike three. Chris Marisicano struck out to open the ninth for GW, but Tim Reeves gave the Colonials life with a single. Parker drew a walk, and Shupin loaded the bases with an infield single. Kruer grounded out to first, but the lead was cut again as Reeves crossed the plate. Hewitt walked Shanley to load the bases for the second time in the inning, but held on for the save with a ground ball off the bat of Eizen.

Bird improved to 6-4 with the win, while Wilkie fell to 4-4 despite five strikeouts in seven innings. Parker recorded a game-high three hits, and four Billikens posted two hits in the game.

The teams wrap up their series on Sun., May 7 at 11 a.m. (CT).