Feb. 19, 2010
Box Score
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Senior first baseman Danny Brock tied a career high with four RBIs and senior right-hander Bryant Cotton tossed seven shutout innings as the Saint Louis Billikens registered a 6-2 victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff Friday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field. It was the season opener for both squads.
Brock went 2-for-2 on the day with two walks, a double and a solo home run. Senior right fielder Andrew Guerra went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including a solo homer in the second inning.
Cotton picked up the win after seven scoreless innings. He scattered six hits and struck out seven while walking just one.
The Billikens took control early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead through three innings. SLU loaded the bases in the first after walks to left fielder Ben Braaten, and a single by second baseman Zach Miller. Brock then stroked a double to left to drive in two and put the Billikens on top early.
Solo homers by Guerra and Brock increased the Billiken lead to 4-0 through three. After a scoreless fourth, the Billikens got on the board again in the fifth when Guerra doubled home third baseman J.D. Dunn.
Cotton retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings before giving way to freshman lefty Jon Levin. The Golden Lions would not go down quietly, however, pounding out six hits for two runs down the stretch, but the Billikens held on for the 6-2 win.
Saint Louis continues its opening-weekend series in Little Rock tomorrow against Saint Peter's College at 10 a.m., followed by a matchup against Arkansas-Little Rock at 1 p.m. SLU and Arkansas-Pine Bluff will meet again Sunday at 10 a.m.
BILLIKEN EXTRAS: Seven of the Billikens' 10 hits went for extra bases (four doubles, two home runs, one triple) ... it's the second-straight opening day win for the Billikens, who had previously lost five-straight season openers from 2004 to 2008 ... everyone in the starting lineup reached base at least once, and all but one in the starting lineup registered at least one hit ... Brock's four RBIs matched his career high, which was set April 28, 2009, at Missouri State ... it is the second-straight season opener in which Andrew Guerra homered after he went yard twice last year in the opener against CSU-Bakersfield ... redshirt freshman Steve Fernandez posted his first collegiate hit, a single to left field, in the third inning ... this was the first of eight games the Billikens will play in the state of Arkansas this season.
