April 16, 2008
Box Score
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis plated a run with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th to edge Eastern Illinois 3-2 in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday at The Billiken Sports Center. SLU starter George Hebert and reliever Ziggy Moore combined to allow just two runs on six hits in the 12-inning affair.
The win moves the Billikens' record to 16-18, which already matches last season's win total. Eastern Illinois dips to 17-16 with the loss.
Saint Louis put an end to the three hour, 48-minute contest in the 12th when it plated the first run for either team since the fourth inning. With one out, Casey Moore walked. Casey Moore to second. David Blackwell walked to load the bases, and Ramee Yacoub drew the RBI walk to give the Billikens the victory.
It was an inauspicious start for both starting pitchers, as both ran into trouble early. In the top of the first, the Panthers plated two runs off Hebert. The first of those runs came unearned on a passed ball, and the second came via an RBI groundout by Jordan Kreke.
However, that is all the runs Eastern would manage in the contest. Hebert would go on to allow just three more hits. The Billikens went to the bullpen with one down in the eighth, and Ziggy Moore pitched the rest of the 4-2/3 innings. He allowed just two hits and struck out two in picking up his second victory (2-2) of the season.
The Bills plated a run of their own in the bottom of the first. With two outs, J.D. Dunn doubled to left center. Tom Pinnell and Mike Beal both walked to load the bases. Greg Rodgers, who is ranked nationally in walks per game, drew one of his two free passes on the day to allow Dunn to score and cut the EIU lead to 2-1.
The Billikens tied the game in the fourth, again doing their damage with two outs. David Blackwell and Yacoub kept the inning going with singles. Ryan Bennett then put a ball in play that was thrown wildly by the Panthers defense, allowing Blackwell to score and knot the score at 2-2.
That remained the score until Yacoub's bases-loaded walk thanks to solid defense and clutch pitching. EIU had runners on second and third with one out in the sixth, but Hebert got a strikeout and fly out to end the threat. The Panthers had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth, and Ziggy Moore and Casey Moore had to be sharp in denying a squeeze play. Yacoub made a diving catch in right field to end the top of the ninth after Eastern Illinois put two runners on.
In all, SLU drew 15 walks, including three from Mike Beal. Guerra had two hits and two walks, while Dunn posted a hit and scored a run.
The Billikens resume Atlantic 10 Conference play this weekend when they travel to St. Bonaventure for the three-game set. Friday's opener is slated for 2 p.m. (CT).
