Feb. 29, 2008
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Saint Louis fell 11-5 to Samford in the first game of a three-game set at Joe Lee Griffin Field Friday afternoon. Senior Greg Rodgers (St. Charles, Mo. / Francis Howell) slugged a three-run homer in the top of the first, but Samford scored at least one run in each of the final five innings to secure the win.
SLU right-hander Dave Sever (Burr Ridge, Ill. / Benet Academy) was tagged with the loss after going five innings and allowing five runs on nine hits. Junior Tom Pinnell (Edwardsville, Ill. / Edwardsville) and sophomore J.D. Dunn (Franklin, Tenn. / Centennial) also provided RBIs for the Billikens, who fall to 1-3 on the season.
The Bills jumped on top early thanks to Rodgers' three-run blast, SLU's first home run of the season. Sophomore Andrew Guerra (Dallas, Texas / Rice) led off the game with a single to center, then freshman Ramee Yacoub (Oakland, N.J. / Indian Hills) reached first on catcher's interference in his first collegiate plate appearance. Rodgers then emptied the bases with a shot that cleared the right-field wall to put the Billikens up 3-0.
Samford (2-3) cut into its early deficit with a run in the first, when Alex Godshall scored on a double-play groundout. The Bulldogs would tack on another run in the fourth when Michael Rutledge and Bear Burnett had back-to-back hits to ultimately plate Rutledge.
Meanwhile, Saint Louis' offense was held hitless until the sixth. By that time, Samford had taken a 5-3 advantage thanks in part to a three-run fifth.
After a Bulldog run in the sixth made it 6-3, the Billikens pulled back to within one with a two-run seventh inning. Yacoub walked, then advanced to second on an errant pick-off attempt. Pinnell then ripped a triple to center, scoring Yacoub. With one down, Dunn lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Pinnell and trim Samford's lead to 6-5.
However, that is as close as the Billikens would get, and Samford exploded for five runs over the last two innings against relievers George Hebert (Midlotian, Va. / Clover) and Joe Baumgartner (St. Charles, Mo. / Francis Howell) for the decisive 11-5 margin.
Overall, the Billikens were out-hit 17-5. Trent Hill picked up the win for Samford, going six innings and allowed three runs on three hits. The Bulldogs' bullpen allowed just two runs on two hits the final three innings to secure the win.
The teams are back at it tomorrow in a doubleheader at Joe Lee Griffin Field. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.
