ST. LOUIS - A late surge from the Saint Louis baseball team powered the Billikens to a 7-2 victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies. Senior RHP Jerry Mancuso picks up the win, while freshman James Norwood threw well in his start. Norwood went five innings, allowing seven hits, two earned runs, four strikeouts and one walk. Mancuso went three innings with only one hit, one walk and three strikeouts.

The Billikens scored early in the second with junior Grant Nelson ripping a double to right center, scoring fellow junior Steve Fernandez. They extended the lead to two when the Huskies attempted to pick of junior Alex Kelly at second base, throwing the ball away and allowing freshman Alec Sole to score.

Northern Illinois tied the game up in the sixth. Norwood had held off the Huskies for five innings, but as fatigue set in, NIU ripped off three straight singles, scoring one. Saint Louis head coach Darin Hendrickson turned to junior LHP Jon Levin to turn the tide. Levin got out of the inning with only one more run, tying the score at 2.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth, when the Bills took control. Nelson opened with a one-out single. Junior C.J. Rose ripped a double down the left field line, moving Nelson to third. The Huskies then intentionally walked Danny Brennan to get to senior Connor Gandossy. The four-year veteran stepped up and delivered with a deep fly to center, scoring the go-ahead run.

After Gandossy's sacrifice fly, the Bills came alive, scoring four more runs in the frame. After the smoke cleared and the dust settled, the Bills emerged victorious with a 7-2 win.

The Huskies and Bills will play again tomorrow a 3:00 p.m. at the Busch Sports Center.