April 26, 2008
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis dropped both games of a doubleheader against George Washington this afternoon at The Billiken Sports Center. The Colonials (20-22, 8-9 Atlantic 10) posted a 5-3 victory in the first game before topping SLU (18-23, 5-12 A-10) by a 21-5 count in the nightcap.
In game one, GW started the scoring when it plated an unearned run off SLU starter David Blackwell managed to get under, but the ball skimmed off his glove and fell to the ground for a two-base error. Tim Reeves then blooped a ball into no-mans land behind the shortstop to plate Zebroski and put the Colonials up 1-0. Turmail forced a double-play ball to end the inning and prevent further damage.
Mike Beal stroked a two-out single in the second. The inning ended when Tom Pinnell lined a shot right back to GW starter Eric Cantrell. He stayed with the ball and got Pinnell out at first, but he left the game due to an injury sustained on the play.
The Billikens took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Bennett started the inning with a double down the left-field line. The next batter, J.D. Dunn, sent a triple to the right-center field gap to bring in Bennett and make the score 1-1. Greg Rodgers then recorded his team-leading 32nd RBI of the season when he plated Dunn with a sacrifice fly to left field.
SLU's lead did not last long, as GW reclaimed the advantage in the fifth. The Colonials got back-to-back doubles from Brendon Kelliher and Gavin Swanson to tie the score at 2-2. Sean Rockey put the visitors on top when he pushed a single through the right side to plate Swanson. GW plated two more runs in the inning to take a 5-2 lead.
The Billikens cut into their deficit with a run in the seventh. They loaded the bases when Beal was hit by a pitch, Pinnell singled and Casey Moore walked. Ramee Yacoub then put a ball in play that was booted by the GW shortstop to score Beal and make the score 5-3.
But Saint Louis would strand five runners over the final two innings as GW went on to the 5-3 final. Pat Lehman, who came in the game in the bottom of the third when Cantrell went down, picked up the win after hurling the final seven innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out nine.
For Saint Louis, Turmail was tagged with the loss despite his team-leading fourth complete game. He allowed five runs (three earned) on 10 hits while striking out five.
Bennett had three hits in game one, while Dunn and Pinnell each had a pair of hits.
George Washington got out to a quick 2-0 lead in game two. Zebroski cracked a one-out double to left. With two outs, Abokhair then lifted a home run over the left-field wall to put the Colonials up 2-0 early. The trend continued into the second when GW scored six times, punctuated by a Zebroski three-run homer.
GW put up two runs in the third to take a 10-0 lead before SLU pushed across a run in the fourth. Dunn singled, and George Hebert drew a two-out walk to put two runners on. Ryan Johnson walked to load the bases, and Zach Outman drew a walk to put the Billikens on the board.
Ryan Bennett scorched a double down the left-field line to account for the rest of the Billikens' runs.
Bennett made it back-to-back three hit games with three more in the second game, and Yacoub pounded out two hits for Saint Louis. Zebroski had a monster game with five hits and five RBIs, while Tim Reeves drove in six runs with four hits for GW. In all, the Colonials mustered 28 hits in the game, which is a Billiken Sports Center record.
SLU and GW meet tomorrow in the series finale. First pitch at The BSC is slated for noon.
