Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

TROY, Ala. - A last-inning error proved costly for Saint Louis, as Troy completed its sweep of the Billikens with a 10-9 victory this afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field. On a gusty day that saw five home runs, Troy used an infield error and a ground ball up the middle to plate the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. For the Billikens, sophomore Matt Mach led the offense with a career-high-tying three RBI on his first career home run.

The Billiken offense jumped out quickly with three runs in the top of the first. Ryan Crespi kicked things off with a double down the right field line and moved to third on Gilbert Marlowe's ground out to the right side. Senior Bill Musselman picked up the RBI with a ground ball as well. After an error put Greg Rodgers on first, senior Casey Moore launched the season's first home run with a shot over the left field wall.

The Trojans got two runs back in the bottom of the inning on Clint Robinson's home to center. Troy threatened again in the second, but Eric Rohr left a pair of Trojans on base to end the inning. Rohr again lived dangerously in the third as the Trojans looked for a two-out rally. Robinson singled to center, moved to second on Josh Dew's single to left center and scored the tying run on Kevin Weidlich's single. Josh Blackwell was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Rohr got out of the inning with a ground ball to third.

SLU surged ahead in the top of the fourth, putting six runs on the board. A pair of walks and a single from Blake Bratcher loaded the bases for Ziggy Moore. The sophomore infielder ripped a single to put the Billikens back on top 5-3. The Trojans went to the bullpen for Nate Duhe, who served up Mach's three-run shot for an 8-3 Billiken lead. Marlowe drew a two-out walk and stole second to get into scoring position for Musselman, who brought him in with a single.

Trailing 9-3, Troy opened the bottom half of the inning with a Brett Pierce double down he left field line, and Ian Craze picked up the RBI with a single to right center. Rohr escaped the inning with no further damage, though. The Trojans struck their biggest blow in the bottom of the sixth with four runs to cut the Billikens' lead to 9-8. The scoring came on four hits, including a pair of home runs.

Dan Cowsert took the mound in the eighth and saw Troy knot the game at 9-9 with a leadoff triple from Craze and a double from Steven Felix. After Mark Zielinski retired the left-handed hitting Robinson, Eric Mueller took the mound and induced a double play off the bat of Dew to close out the inning.

Troy reliever Rob Brown retired the Billikens in order in the top of the ninth, setting the stage for the final-inning heroics. Weidlich led off the inning, reaching on a two-base error. Shohei Fujita drove a single up the middle that allowed pinch runner Grant Luke to score from second to deliver the 10-9 victory.

Mueller took the loss despite giving up just one hit in an inning of work. Brown earned his first win of the season with two innings of relief. Robinson led all hitters with four RBI on three hits, including a pair of home runs.

The Billikens return to action next weekend at Central Arkansas. The three-game series begins on Fri., Feb. 23, at 1 p.m.