March 20, 2007

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Senior right-hander Eric Rohr pitched the first complete game of the season and shut out UT Martin 1-0 this afternoon at The Billiken Sports Center. The Billikens (4-16) won the pitchers' duel with a lone run in the bottom of the sixth, while Rohr worked out of trouble in the top of the seventh and ninth innings to capture the victory.

Both starting pitchers were solid early with neither team recording a hit until UTM's Kevin Holt dropped a bunt down the third base line for a single in the top of the third. The Billikens' first hit came with a single to left center from Ziggy Moore, but a double play erased the threat.

After the Skyhawks went to the bullpen for reliever Ryan Rockholt in the fourth, Saint Louis put the first runner in scoring position. Blake Bratcher drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Greg Rodgers' single through the left side. Rockholt recorded the first of his five strikeouts then got a ground ball to get out of the inning unscathed.

The sixth opened much like the fourth with Tom Pinnell drawing a leadoff walk. The sophomore swiped second, ducking just under the throw from catcher Jason Hockaday. Pinnell took third on a ground ball from Bratcher, and Rodgers plated him with a two-out single up the middle. Bill Musselman kept things going with a double to left center, moving Rodgers to third. Rockholt posted his final strikeout to hold the deficit at 1-0.

The Skyhawks felt a sense of urgency in the top of the seventh as the rain picked up, and Blake Turner got things going with a single to left. Kyle Dudley slapped a single through the right side to put the go-ahead run on base. Hockaday attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Rohr pounced off the mound in time to force Turner out at third for the first out of the inning. Albert Destrade lifted a ball to left center that Ryan Crespi tracked down, but Rohr walked Bryce Carden to load the bases. The Billiken hurler fell behind in the count to Douglas Nicodemus then saw the Skyhawks' third baseman send a shot to left field that sent J.D. Dunn all the way to the wall but stayed in the park to keep the Skyhawks off the board.

A walk and a single in the bottom of the seventh put two runners on against UTM reliever Cale Sutton, but the Billikens could not push across an insurance run.

Turner opened the Skyhawk ninth inning with a single through the left side and moved to second on Dudley's sacrifice. Hockaday grounded out to Casey Moore at third for the second out. Destrade sent a slow ground ball past Rohr to short and was able to leg out a single, putting runners on the corners for Carden, but the UTM outfielder sent a fly ball to center field where Crespi recorded the final out of the victory.

Rodgers ended the afternoon 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Musselman's double was the lone extra-base hit for either team. Rohr improved to 2-1 on the season as he scattered five hits and struck out three. Rockholt took the loss despite fanning five and allowing just three hits over three innings of relief.

The Billikens are back in action on Wed., March 21, with a 3 p.m. game against Evansville at The Billiken Sports Center.