April 11, 2007

Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn. - Runs came early and late for UT Martin as the Skyhawks picked up a 5-1 victory over Saint Louis this afternoon at Skyhawk Field. The Billikens (7-27) plated their run in the top of the fourth on Bill Musselman's double to left. The pitching staff yielded 16 hits to the Skyhawks, but forced UTM to leave 10 men on base in the outing.

The Billikens looked to get on the board early with J.D. Dunn's one-out single. He stole second and moved to third on an error. UTM starter Ryan Rockholt then hit Greg Rodgers with a pitch to put runners on the corners with one out, but got out of the jam with a foul out.

The Skyhawks were similarly aggressive early as Joe Raccuglia led off with a double to right. Lance Renton plated him with a one-out double to center. After Bryce Carden singled to right, Renton scored on Jason Hockaday's infield single before Billiken hurler Brock Hewett closed out the inning with a fly ball to left.

After Hewett worked around an error in the second and a single in the third, both of which were erased by Musselman when they attempted to steal second, the Billiken catcher provided a spark at the plate as well. Rodgers drew a one-out walk from UTM reliever Eric Walker and moved to second on Blake Bratcher's single to right. Musselman drove his ninth double of the season to bring Rodgers home and cut the Skyhawks' lead in half. With one out and runners on the corners, the Billikens attempted a double steal, but Bratcher was thrown out at home. Walker recorded his lone strikeout of the game to end the inning.

Hewett continued to work out of trouble in the middle innings until the Skyhawks broke through again for three runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff double by Chad Green, an error and a walk put runners on the corners for Kyle Dudley, who ripped a single to right for a 3-1 lead. With the bases still full of Skyhawks, Hewett turned the game over to reliever Dan Cowsert. Three straight singles plated two more runs before a pair of ground balls and a foul out left the bases loaded.

Rodgers led off the ninth with a single off closer Chadwick Cameron, but a double-play eliminated the potential for a late rally.

Rockholt collected the win to improve to 3-2 on the season, while Hewett fell to 0-7 with the loss. Rodgers was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate as the only Billiken with multiple hits, while Renton posted a game-high four hits.

The Billikens are back in action this weekend with a three-game series against Atlantic 10 foe St. Bonaventure, beginning Fri., April 13, at 7 p.m. at The Billiken Sports Center.