NASHVILLE. TENN - Though Saint Louis was able to put four runs on the board in the ninth, Lipscomb's eight run cushion proved to be too much. The Billikens drop the season opener against Lipscomb, 8-4, in the first game of the Mule Mix Classic. Sophomore LHP Damian Rivera picks up the loss. He went 5.2 innings, with 11 hits, seven runs (all earned), one strikeout and one walk.
Junior Mike Levine opened the Bills offense with a one-out double in the top of the first, but was unable to score. The bottom of the inning was all Lipscomb, as the Bison scored three runs over five hits.
Saint Louis threatened the three-run lead in the top of the third. Junior OF Jordan Hammerman reached on a throwing error. He then proceeded to steal second, only to get to third on a throwing error by Lipscomb catcher Logan Hostettler. Levine was then hit by a pitch and junior DH Steve Fernandez walked to load the bases for junior OF Alex Kelly. Kelly hit a line drive to the right-center gap, but Lipscomb CF Zach Lowery robbed Kelly with last minute stab.
The Bison added one more in the bottom of the third and three in the sixth. Saint Louis head coach Darin Hendrickson put in freshman Nick Bates to stop Lipscomb and the rookie responded. Bates allowed one run over 1.1 IP with two hits, one strikeout and a walk.
Senior LHP Jim Foster came in to close out the eighth. He only allowed one baserunner, going 1.0 IP with one hit.
In the ninth, the Billikens attempted to mount the comeback. Junior third basemen Grant Nelson started things off with a walk, with freshman Mike Vigliarolo drawing a walk of his own immediately after. Then freshman catcher Jon Corbitt drove a single through the left side, loading the bases for freshman Matt Adamowicz. Adamowicz laced a grounder to second, scoring Nelson, but was thrown out at first. Lipscomb closer Chris Nunn went a little wild, throwing two wild pitches, scoring Vigliarolo and Corbitt. Levine walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. Junior C.J. Rose singled and Fernandez walked to load the bases. Nunn was pulled from the game and Gil Rehwinkel was brought in. Kelly immediately singled, driving in Levine and bringing the score to 8-4 with the bases loaded and two out. Nelson returned to the dish and ripped a shot to the shortstop, but it was fielded cleanly for the force at second.
The Billikens will return to action tomorrow, Feb. 18 in a double header. The first game will be against Middle Tennessee State at 1:00 p.m., with a matchup against Bowling Green to follow immediately after.
