May 18, 2007

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Sophomore Ziggy Moore put Saint Louis on top with a two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning, and the Billikens held on for a 4-3 win over Dayton tonight at The Billiken Sports Center. For the second-straight game, the Flyers staked themselves to an early lead only to see Saint Louis rally for the victory. Senior Eric Rohr recorded seven strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs in eight innings, and, for the second time in as many nights, senior Brock Hewitt pitched a flawless ninth inning. The right-hander collected his second save of the season after striking out two in retiring the Flyers in order.

The Flyers strung together three hits in the first to plate two runs, and, while they amassed 10 hits throughout the game, Rohr did not yield another scoring opportunity until the top of the eighth.

Meanwhile, the Billiken offense struggled to put together a series of hits against UD left-hander Quinn Haselhorst. The first scoring chance game in the fourth inning after Blake Bratcher beat out an infield single. He took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a balk with two outs. Haselhorst walked B.J. Rodrigue to put runners on the corners but got out of the jam with one of his eight strikeouts on the night.

An error opened the bottom of the sixth, putting Ziggy Moore, who dropped a single into center field to plate two runs before the Flyers retired Johnson trying to reach third on the play.

Working with the lead, Rohr made short work of the Flyers in the top of the seventh. Casey Moore started a two-out rally in the bottom of the frame then traded places with Bratcher on an RBI double from the Billiken left fielder. The Flyers went to the bullpen, and Chris Beesley kept UD within reach with a strikeout to end the inning.

The Flyers were not finished, though, as catcher Scott Dunwoody opened the eighth with a double down the left field line and scored on Bobby Getty's double to right center. With the tying run in scoring position, Rohr recorded his seventh strikeout of the night and followed that with a ground out from Joe McSoley. The senior hurler got ahead of designated hitter Myles Swartzel before issuing his lone walk of the night. The free pass did no harm, though, as a ground ball to short preserved the one-run lead.

Hewitt took over in the ninth and struck out the first two hitters he faced before getting Michael Massa to pop up to Johnson at first base to pick up the save.

Rohr's win was his career-high sixth of the season, five of which came in conference play. Bratcher, Rodrigue and Johnson each recorded a pair of hits for SLU.

Saint Louis will try to complete the sweep of the Flyers on Sat., May 19, at 1 p.m. Prior to the first pitch, the Billikens will honor their 13 seniors in a ceremony set to begin at 12:40 p.m.