March 23, 2007

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis dropped a 6-0 decision to Charlotte in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener tonight at The Billiken Sports Center. The Billikens (4-18, 0-1 A-10) mustered just six hits against 49ers' ace Adam Mills, but senior catcher Bill Musselman recorded two of them, including SLU's lone extra-base hit. Charlotte (18-4, 1-0 A-10) plated six runs on 12 hits as Brad McElroy led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 afternoon.

The 49ers plated a run in the top of the first after an error put a runner on third with just one out. McElroy picked up the RBI with a single to left. SLU starter Dave Sever saw an error and two hits plate two runs in the top of the second after Spencer Steedley led off the inning with a double to right. Shane Moody plated the first run of the inning with a ground ball, and Cory Lane made it a 3-0 lead with a double to right center.

A walk and a wild pitch in the top of the third set up Steeley's RBI double down the right field line. The Billikens got the leadoff man on in the bottom of the fifth on Musselman's single to center, but a double play closed the inning. Tom Pinnell posted a one-out single through the left side in the bottom of the sixth, but again the threat was eliminated via the double play.

Charlotte added two more runs in the top of the seventh, putting together four hits, including RBI singles from Steeldey and O'Brien Taylor. Musselman led off the eighth with a double off the glove of the Charlotte third baseman. Pinch hitter Brandon Parsons drew a two-out walk, but Mills killed the rally with the ninth of his 12 strikeouts on the night.

Mills improved to 6-1 with the win, posting his second complete-game shutout of the season. Sever fanned five while allowing six runs, four earned, in seven innings to take the loss, falling to 1-3 on the season.

Steedley matched McElroy with three hits on the night with a game-high two RBI. Musselman was the lone multiple-hit Billiken with a 2-for-3 night.

The two teams square off again on Sat., March 24, at 1 p.m. at The Billiken Sports Center.