April 22, 2008
Box Score
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis slugged a season-high 17 hits en route to a 7-6 victory over Missouri-St. Louis in non-conference baseball action Tuesday night at The Billiken Sports Center. SLU's offense was led by Andrew Guerra and Brandon Parsons who had three hits apiece. Chaz Salembier picked up his first career win after tossing five innings of relief.
The victory pushes the Billikens to 18-20 overall, while the Tritons fall to 15-21 on the season.
After UMSL stranded the bases loaded in the top of the first, the Billikens found themselves in the same situation in the bottom half of the inning after J.D. Dunn doubled, Greg Rodgers singled and Mike Beal walked. Tom Pinnell drove in the first run when he singled to the second baseman, who just missed and attempt to tage out Beal on his way to second.
SLU's next batter, Guerra, lined a rope into center field that fell for a base hit to drive in Rodgers and put the Billikens up 2-0 in the first. Brandon Parsons provided the big pop in the inning when he lined a ball down the left-field line to drive in Beal and Pinnell. Guerra recorded the final out of the inning when he was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on the play.
The Tritons responded with four runs of their own in the second. Jon Kalb started the rally with a double, and Nico Gregali followed with a single. Mark Sanders drove in the first run of the game for UMSL when he sent a single through the right side. Ryan Ayres followed with another RBI single to cut the Tritons' deficit in half at 4-2.
SLU starter Chris Merrick got out the inning, but not before a pair of sacrifice flies of the bats of Andy Ford and Scott Lavelock tied the score at 4-4.
Saint Louis pushed across the go-ahead run in the third inning. Pinnell led off with a double to left, and Guerra followed suit with his 16th double of the season to drive home Pinnell and put the Billikens ahead 5-4. With the double, Guerra moved into a tie for fourth on SLU's single-season doubles list in addition to extending his hitting-streak to nine games.
The Billikens increased their lead in the fourth. Ziggy Moore singled to start the frame, then advanced to second on a Yacoub groundout. Rodgers then ripped a drive through the right side to bring home Moore and put the Billikens on top 6-4.
Meanwhile, reliever Chaz Salembier kept the Billikens ahead with five innings of three-hit ball. He allowed a run in the seventh then Lavelock sent a double into right field to plate Ford and slim the Bills' lead to 6-5.
SLU plated a run in the eighth that would prove beneficial. Yacoub walked, Dunn singled and Rodgers was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Guerra then drew a walk to allow Yacoub to score and put the Billikens up 7-5.
UMSL's Ryan Ayers belted a solo home run in the ninth to pull the Tritons to within one, but Scott Turmail got three groundouts in the frame to deliver his second save of the season and seal a 7-6 win for Saint Louis.
Guerra had three RBIs in addition to his three hits, while Parsons drove in a pair. Yacoub, Dunn, Rodgers, Pinnell and Moore all had two hits for SLU. In addition, Yacoub extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
SLU returns to action tomorrow when Missouri State comes to The BSC. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
