March 19, 2008
Box Score
BRADENTON, Fla. - Backed by a complete-game shutout by senior right-hander B.J. Rodrigue (Destrehan, La./Brother Martin), Saint Louis ousted Ohio State 4-0 today in its final game of the IMG Academy College Baseball Classic in Bradenton, Fla. The Billikens broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win, their fourth in five games at the tournament.
The win, arguably the best of the young 2008 season, pushes the Billikens record to .500 at 8-8 overall. The Buckeyes, who last year claimed the Big Ten tournament championship and earned a spot in the NCAA Regional, dip to 8-6 on the season.
Rodrigue, with the help of a timely defensive presence, was able to pitch out of jams early on. He yielded back-to-back singles to start the game, but got a double-play ball to end the threat. He retired the Buckeyes in order in the second, and halted a two-out rally in the third. In the fifth, Ohio State had the bases loaded, but Rodrigue got J.B. Shuck to ground out to second to end the threat. Pitching with the lead for the first time, he faced the minimum in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the win for SLU.
Offensively, senior catcher Casey Moore (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Holt) jump-started the seventh-inning rally when he stroked a single to center field. Two straight walks were issued to sophomore Brandon Parsons (Stow, Ohio/Stow Munroe Falls) and junior Ziggy Moore (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Holt), allowing sophomore J.D. Dunn (Franklin, Tenn./Centennial) to be credited with an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The next batter, sophomore Casey Moore and make it 2-0 Billikens. Ziggy Moore. The Billikens pushed across their final run of the inning when sophomore Mike Beal (St. Louis, Mo./SLUH) slapped an RBI single to plate Dunn.
That is all the support that Rodrigue would need, as he worked through the Ohio State lineup while scattering 10 hits. Coupled with last Wednesday's start against Fontbonne, Rodrigue has tossed 14 consecutive scoreless innings.
Guerra and Casey Moore had two hits apiece for the Billikens, as SLU's top-four hitters in the lineup all accounted for an RBI.
The Billikens have won six of their last seven games, and end their spring break trip with a 4-1 record. SLU's only setback in Florida was a narrow 2-1 loss yesterday against Lafayette in a pitchers' duel.
Saint Louis stays on the road to open Atlantic 10 Conference action at Charlotte. The first of the three-game weekend series with the 49ers is set for Friday, with the first pitch from Robert and Miriam Hayes Stadium scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT).
