MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Saint Louis University baseball moved to 5-0 here Friday afternoon with a 20-6 win over Western Illinois in seven innings.
The Billikens' five wins to kick off their 2024 campaign marks the best start in head coach
Darin Hendrickson's tenure at SLU.
Reminiscent to the team's season opener a week ago,
Hayden Moore, the Billikens' leadoff hitter, blasted a home run to give them the early, 1-0, lead. From there, SLU's bats were on fire for the fifth-straight game, as the team scored 19 additional runs in the ensuing innings.
Moore and
Ethan Sitzman accounted for eight of the team's 20 runs, while
Tyler Fogarty drove in a team-high four RBIs. Four Billikens hit home runs in the Friday afternoon game with Fogarty's grand-slam coming in the top of the third to give them the 11-0 advantage.
Overall, nine Billikens crossed home plate while the same number drove in at least one RBI.
On the mound,
Jackson Holmes earned his second win of the season pitching five of the day's seven innings. The junior right-handed pitcher faced 24 batters, striking out three while giving up four of the Leathernecks' six runs on the day.
Will Bolinger and
Josh Cunningham also appeared in relief for an inning apiece in the victory, facing a combined seven batters while the former allowed two runs and the latter put down the final three in order.
The win accounts for the largest margin of victory for the Billikens this season as they won by 14 runs, as well as marks the second time the team has compiled 20-plus runs.
SLU will be back in action tomorrow for game two against the Leathernecks. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. in Millington, Tenn.
