March 25, 2008
Box Score
ST. LOUIS - Senior first baseman Greg Rodgers (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell) singled in the bottom of the ninth to lift Saint Louis to a thrilling 9-8 victory against the Illinois State Redbirds on Tuesday at The Billiken Sports Center. The game-ending single completed a four-RBI day for Rodgers, which tied his career high.
The Billikens (9-11) also benefited from a career day from senior shortstop Ryan Bennett (Kansas City, Mo./Rockhurst), who tied a career-high with two hits in addition to two key sacrifice bunts. He also belted his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the seventh. In all, SLU posted a season-high 16 hits on the afternoon.
It was back-and-forth for the majority of the game, and the see-saw battle was in full effect beginning in the top of the eighth. Illinois State (9-9) scored three runs in the their half of the eighth to tie the score at 7-7, but SLU second baseman Andrew Guerra (Dallas, Texas/Rice) ripped an RBI double into the left-center field gap in the bottom of the inning to put the Billikens back on top.
Ronnie Calvird plated Cole Marty on an RBI single to keep the resilient Redbirds alive in the next inning, only to see the Billikens come back and win it in the ninth. Freshman Ramee Yacoub (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), who entered the game in the seventh, reached on a one-out single. With two outs, Yacoub got into scoring position after swiping second base. Then, Rodgers ripped a single to left, and the ensuing throw to the plate was off the mark, allowing Yacoub to score easily from second as well securing the second home win in as many tries for the Billikens.
Saint Louis started the scoring with a tally in the first. Sophomore center fielder J.D. Dun (Franklin, Tenn./Centennial) singled to start the frame, then stole second. He advanced to third on a Pinnell single, then came around to score when Rodgers drove him home on an RBI groundout to make it 1-0 Billikens.
That remained the score until the top of the fourth. ISU got an RBI double from Kevin Dublar, and he later scored on a wild pitch as the Redbirds went on top 2-1. However, SLU answered with a two-spot of their own in the bottom-half of the inning when Dunn cracked an RBI single and Rodgers drove in a run on an infield single.
SLU made it 5-2 in the fifth when Bennett drove in David Blackwell (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) with a single. After Illinois State pulled within one with two runs in the sixth, the Billikens plated a pair of runs in their half of the frame. Dunn started the rally with a walk, and circled the bases when Pinnell smoked a double down the left-field line. Rodgers then singled to left for his third RBI of the game.
In the seventh inning, Bennett connected for his first home run of the season after sending a one-out pitch over the left-field fence to make it 7-4 Billikens at the time. That set up the wild final two innings of the game, which was decided on Rodgers' game-winning hit.
Junior Chris Merrick (Forest Hill, Md./Catonsville CC) got the start for SLU and went 5-1/3 innings, allowing four runs on three hits with five strikeouts in the no-decision. Sophomore Zach Outman (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) earned the first win of his SLU career after throwing 1-1/3 innings. Sophomore Brandon Parsons (Stow, Ohio/Stow Munroe Falls) made the catch of the day when he robbed sure extra bases on a sinking liner in right field. After the catch, he quickly got to his feet to double-off the runner on first and erase a scoring opportunity for the Redbirds.
Offensively, Rodgers was 3-for-6 with four RBIs, while Bennett was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Dunn had two hits and scored twice, as did Blackwell. Guerra went 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Pinnell was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Billikens, who are in the midst of a six-game homestand, return to action tomorrow with a matchup against Illinois College. First pitch at The Billiken Sports Center is slated for 6 p.m.
