NASHVILLE, TENN. - Saint Louis rattled off 10 hits, including the team's first home run of the season, but errors in the field ultimately spelled disaster for the Billikens in a 4-5 loss to Belmont.  Sophomore RHP Clay Smith picks up the loss, despite a strong stat line (4.2 IP, three hits, six strikeouts, four walks, one earned run). Saint Louis falls to 1-3 on the year.

Belmont opened the game with a run in the bottom of the first. The Billikens responded in the third with a single from freshman Alec Solé. Two batters later, junior Alex Kelly belted SLU's first home run of the season over the left field fence to bring the score to 2-1 in favor of the Bills.

The bottom of the fifth was tough on Saint Louis. Two errors from the Bills and some clutch hitting from the Bruins lead to a four-run inning.

Heading into the sixth, the Bills were down 5-2, but SLU junior OF Steve Fernandez ripped an RBI double in the top half of the inning to score Kelly and cut the deficit to 5-3.

Junior Grant Nelson's two-out, RBI double in the eighth brought the score to 5-4, with the tying run at second. Head coach Darin Hendrickson brought in sophomore Danny Brennan to pinch run for Nelson with senior Marco DiRoma at the plate. DiRoma delivered with a single to center. Brennan rounded third at tried to score, but a terrific throw from Belmont CF Dylan Craig ended the inning.

Despite the late surge, the Billikens fell just short, going down in order in the ninth to lose 5-4.

Saint Louis will return to action next weekend when it plays a weekend series against the Mountaineers of Mount St. Mary's