March 8, 2008

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Saint Louis fell behind early and was unable to bounce back in a 6-1 defeat to Texas-Pan American Saturday on the second day of the Hillcrest Ford Bearkat Classic at Don Sanders Stadium. The Billikens (2-6) found themselves down 4-0 after two innings, and that cushion allowed UTPA starter Arnolds Franco to hurl a complete game en route to the Broncs' third win of the year.

An infield single and an error in the bottom of the first put two UTPA (3-7) runners in scoring position, and Jordan Rutenbar came through with a two-run single as the Broncs cracked the scoreboard. Abraham Garcia tacked on another run when he drove in Rutenbar with a base-knock of his own, making the score 3-0 Broncs through one.

UTPA got after SLU right-hander Scott Turmail (Florissant, Mo. / Forest Park CC) once again in the bottom of the second to make it 4-0, then Turmail settled down and retired 11 of the next 13 hitters he faced. Despite the strong finish in his outing, Turmail was tagged with his first loss of the season.

The Billikens had base runners in the second and third innings, but was unable to push a run across until the fifth. Sophomore designated hitter Michael Beal (St. Louis, Mo. / Glendale CC) and sophomore right fielder Brandon Parsons (Stow, Ohio / Stow Munroe Falls) led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and both advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Junior shortstop Ziggy Moore (Lake St. Louis, Mo. / Holt) then lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Beal and trim SLU's deficit to 4-1. That was all the runs the Billikens could muster in the inning, however, despite a walk later in the frame to sophomore center fielder J.D. Dunn (Franklin, Tenn. / Centennial).

SLU kept pushing, and was unfortunate not to get another run in the top of the sixth. Senior first baseman Greg Rodgers (St. Charles, Mo. / St. Charles CC) and sophomore left fielder David Blackwell (Shaker Heights, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) both reached on singles. With two down, Parsons stroked a single to right field, but Rodgers was gunned down at the plate attempting to cut the Broncs' lead in half.

Texas-Pan American chased Turmail for the game in the seventh, and proceeded to score two more runs, one of which came against reliever George Hebert (Midlothian, Va. / Clover Hill), for the final 6-1 margin. Overall, Franco allowed nine hits and struck out five while walking two.

For the Billikens, Turmail once again displayed his control as he struck out six and walked none. For the year, he has walked just two batters in 22.1 innings while striking out 15. Offensively, SLU got a pair of hits from Pinnell and Parsons.

Next up for Saint Louis is a Sunday matchup against South Dakota State. Game time at Don Sanders Stadium is set for 11 a.m.