April 29, 2011

Final Stats

St. Louis - Saint Louis starter Alex Alemann struck out a career-high 10 batters in 8-2/3 innings of work as the Billikens defeated visiting Fordham 1-0. The win is the 600th career victory for SLU head coach Darin Hendrickson, who is in his fourth season with the Billikens.

The contest was a pitchers duel between two of the top three pitching teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Alemann had at least one strikeout in six innings and at one point K'd eight of 10 Fordham hitters as he retired 13 straight batters. Fordham starter Brian Pendergast allowed only five hits as he went the distance for the Rams.

The Billikens recorded the only run of the game in the second inning. Nick Becker doubled down the right field line to open the frame. With one out, Mike Levine was hit by a pitch. Jerry Mancuso singled to center as Becker dashed home with what would prove to be the game-winning run.

Both starters were brilliant as neither team mounted a serious scoring threat after the second inning. The Rams finally put two runners aboard in the seventh, but Aleman induced a fly out to end the threat. In the bottom of the inning, Levine singled and took second on Mancuso's sac bunt. However, Pendergast retired two in a row to escape. One inning later, Marco DiRoma singled, and pinch runner Zach Miller stole second and took third on a Fordham error. However, Miller was stranded as the Billikens took a 1-0 advantage to the ninth.

Alemann retired the first two Fordham hitters and was one strike away from his second complete game of the season. Tim Swatek singled to extend the game, and Travis Parker came on to close out the game. Brian Kownacki singled as Fordham eventually put runners at second and third. Parker retired Stephen McSherry on a grounder to third to record his seventh save of the season.

The Billikens improve to 23-18 overall, 5-8 in the A-10. The Rams drop to 26-16, 7-6 in the league. The teams play again Saturday, and first pitch has been moved up to Noon (CT).