April 21, 2007

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. - Junior B.J. Rodrigue drove in three runs early then took the mound late to steer Saint Louis past Fordham 6-4 this afternoon at Houlihan Park. The Billikens (9-30, 4-8 A-10) took an early 5-0 lead, including a three-run triple from Rodrigue, then held off a late challenge from the Rams as Rodrigue struck out three and allowed just two hits in the final two innings. The Rams (20-16, 9-5 A-10) out-hit the Billikens 10-5 but issued eight walks to help the Billiken offense.

For the second-straight game, the Billikens got on the board first as Blake Bratcher opened the second inning with a double to right field. Ryan Crespi drove a one-out single to right deep enough for Bratcher to score from second. Fordham starter Javier Martinez got out of the inning with a double play, but he was right back under duress in the top of the third. After retiring the first two hitters of the frame, Martinez hit Casey Moore with a pitch and walked the next three hitters to plate Moore and leave the bases loaded. That was when Rodrigue stepped up with a triple to right center to give SLU a 5-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Eric Rohr controlled the Fordham offense, allowing just five hits over the first five innings. The Rams finally broke through in the sixth when Rich Goulian slapped a leadoff single to left and moved to second when Eric Reese drew Rohr's lone walk of the day. John Mollicone plated the Rams' first run with a single to center. Jordan Lert plated Reese with a ground ball to third to cut the Billiken lead to 5-2. Rohr induced a pair of ground balls to end the threat.

As Rohr turned the game over to Dan Cowsert in the seventh, the Rams mounted a two-out rally, sparked by a walk issued to Leach. A single from Goulian put runners on the corners. As Goulian stole second, Leach came home on a wild pitch to pull the Rams within two at 5-3. Reese slipped a single through the left side to narrow the margin to 5-4 before Cowsert got Mollicone to line out to end the inning.

The Billikens got a run back in the top of the eighth when Rodrigue drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on an error. Crespi was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Bennett roped a single to left center to plate Rodrigue and move Crespi to third. The Rams went to the bullpen for Ryan Sheflott, but he walked Tom Pinnell to keep the rally going. Like in the second inning, however, a double-play ball minimized the damage.

Rodrigue took the mound in the eighth, getting off to a difficult beginning. Bobby DiNardo ripped a double to right field and got to third on a wild pitch with just one out. Rodrigue fanned Michael Taddei and pinch hitter Mickey White to leave DiNardo stranded. Rodrigue worked around an error and a single in the bottom of the ninth to collect his second save of the season.

Rohr picked up the win, improving to 4-4 on the season, as he struck out three and allowed just two runs on six hits in six innings of work. Martinez fell to 6-3 for the year, allowing just five hits but issuing seven walks in 7-1/3 innings.

The teams will decide the winner of the three-game series on Sun., April 22, at noon (CT).