NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Saint Louis dropped a hard-fought contest in Nashville, losing to Northern Kentucky 5-3 in 14 innings. It was the longest  game the Billikens have played in since playing 14 innings against St. Bonaventure on April 30, 2010.

The Bills drop to 2-2 this season. Sophomore James Norwood (1-1) picks up the loss despite throwing a gem. His final line was six innings with nine strikeouts and two walks. All of the Norse runs were unearned.

The Billikens had a big second inning, scoring three runs in the frame. Grant Nelson opened with a leadoff double. He was advanced to third after Braxton Martinez singled to left in the next at bat. Jordan Hammerman drove Nelson in with a single down the left field line, Martinez advanced to second.  C.J. Rose drew a walk to load the bases. Alec Solé singled to center field later in the inning to score Hammerman and Martinez. Through two innings, the Bills carried a 3-0 lead.

Senior RHP Alex Alemann kept the Norse bats silent through four, but in the fifth, shaky defense from the Billikens allowed NKU to score its first run. Northern Kentucky added two more runs in the sixth on the heels of another error to tie the game at three. Alemann finished with six innings, six strikeouts and two walks.

The game then went into extras, with neither team gaining an edge until the 14^th inning. With runners at second and third, Norwood produced a grounder, but the ball was bobbled for the Billikens third error of the game and NKU scored. The Norse later scored the game's final run on a ground ball up the middle.

The Billikens were originally scheduled to play NKU again tomorrow, but a last minute change sets up a meeting between Saint Louis and Northwestern on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Junior RHP Clay Smith (1-0) will take the mound for the Bills.