RICHMOND, VA. - Saint Louis dropped the series opener with VCU 1-0 despite a strong outing from starting pitcher Alex Alemann. He threw a complete game with four strikeouts, no walks and six hits. The Billikens fall to 30-15 overall and 12-4 in the Atlantic 10.

The game was a true pitchers' duel. Alemann's counterpart, VCU's Heath Dwyer, also through a complete game, fanning 10 and walking two. There was only one extra-base hit in the contest, a VCU double in the eighth.

The only run of the game came in the third on a VCU sacrifice fly. The Billikens scattered five hits throughout the game, but could not cross the plate. It is only the fifth time the potent Billiken offense has been shutout this season.

Senior Mike Levine paced the Bills, going two-for-four in the contest. 

The Rams and Billikens will finish the series tomorrow with a double header in Richmond, Va. Game one is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. CT with the second game following immediately after.