NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Saint Louis baseball ripped three home runs in a 5-3 win over Northern Kentucky in Nashville, Tenn. Sophomore RHP Nick Bates (1-1) picks up the win after 7.1 innings of work. The Billikens are now 4-2 on the year.

Senior Jordan Hammerman blasted a two-out, two-run home run to right center in the second inning to give the Bills a 2-0 lead. The long ball is Hammerman's first of the year and the second of his career.

In the third, the Billikens kept the power going, with senior Alex Kelly and freshman Braxton Martinez launching back-to-back solo home runs. The Norse managed a run in the bottom of the frame, bringing the tally to 4-1 in favor of SLU. That NKU run ended a streak of 26.2 innings without an earned run from the Saint Louis pitching staff.

Sophomore Alec Solé scored in the seventh inning on a throwing error by the NKU pitcher to bring the Saint Louis lead to 5-1.

Northern Kentucky made a run in the eighth inning. They put two runs on the board on an RBI double and a grounder to the shortstop that scored a run. However, the comeback fell short and the Bills emerged victorious, 5-3.

Senior RHP Marco Mejia threw a scoreless ninth to pick up the save. It marks the first save of his career at Saint Louis.

Next week, the Billikens have a meeting with in-state rival SEMO on Tue. Feb. 24, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. Following that contest, SLU will head south for the Snowbird Invitational in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Mar. 1-3. The Billikens have four games on the schedule in Florida: one game each against Western Michigan and Maine, and a double-header against Michigan.