May 7, 2006

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Saint Louis took advantage of three errors in the top of the ninth to bring home a 7-3 victory at George Washington this afternoon at Barcroft Park. The win capped the first Atlantic 10 sweep for the Billikens (26-21, 13-8 A-10) and moved them into fifth place in the A-10 standings. Junior Bill Musselman picked up the game-winning RBI on a one-out single in the top of the ninth, while B.J. Rodrigue earned the win with 2-1/3 innings of relief.

SLU starter Bill Musselman threw out Mickey Shupin trying to steal second to keep the Colonials off the board. SLU took the lead with just one hit in the top of the second. After Musselman drew a walk from GW starter Dan Pfau, Gilbert Marlowe picked up the Billikens' first hit with a single through the left side. Tim Landy drew a walk to load the bases, and Pfau continued to struggle with his control in issuing a walk to Casey Moore, which brought Musselman in from third. Pfau went on to strike out the next two hitters and mitigate the damage.

Three strikeouts over the next two innings helped Rohr hold the 1-0 lead, and SLU made it a 2-0 game in the top of the fourth on Marlowe's leadoff home run to center field. Ryan Crespi pushed the lead to 3-0 facing reliever Pat Lehman in the top of the seventh with an RBI double to left, plating Jon Guyre from first after he picked up an infield single. After Lehman walked the next two hitters to load the bases, GW went again to the bullpen, and Derek Haese closed the inning with a ground ball out.

The Colonials took advantage of a lead-off walk issued to Tim Reeves in the bottom of the inning. He moved to second on Parker's single to third base before Rohr retired the next two hitters on fly balls to left. Tom Shanley stuck a single through the right side to cut the lead to 3-1 and force Rohr off the mound in favor of B.J. Rodrigue replaced Rhodes, and struck out Matt Boyd to close out the inning.

SLU opened the ninth with Crespi reaching on an error. After he stole second, the Colonials intentionally walked Greg Rodgers for the second time in the game. Musselman plated Crespi from second with a single to left. An error by the left fielder allowed Rodgers to score as well, while Musselman moved all the way to third on the play. With two outs in the inning, Haese hit Landy with a pitch for the second-straight at-bat, then uncorked a wild pitch to plate Musselman and move Landy to second. A third error was enough to bring Landy home with the fourth run of the inning before Haese recorded the final out.

Rodrigue gave up a single down the right field line to Shanley to open the bottom of the ninth, but retired the next three hitters on a pop-up, a strike out and a line drive out to second base to pick up his third win of the season. He matched his career high with three strikeouts and gave up just one hit. Haese fell to 5-3 on the year, despite allowing a single hit in his 2-1/3 innings of relief.

The Colonials out-hit the Billikens 11-8 but left 13 men on base. Sweeney and Marlowe recorded a pair of hits apiece to lead the Billikens, while four Colonials posted multiple hits in the outing. Rohr struck out six and gave up just one extra-base hit in 6-2/3 innings, but was charged with all three runs.

The Billikens have no mid-week games this week, taking a break for final exams, then host their final weekend series of the season beginning on Fri., May 12, against Rhode Island. Friday's start time is 7 p.m., while Saturday's contest begins at 1 p.m. SLU will honor their seven seniors in a brief ceremony prior to Sunday's noon game.