The Saint Louis University baseball team has been searching for consistent play all season.
“We’ve suffered from a lack of consistency,” said coach Bob Hughes. “Sometimes we look like we can come out and play with anybody; sometimes we don’t. “If we come out and play well on a consistent basis, we can compete with anybody.”
The Billikens appear to be finding that sought-after consistency at the right time-at the beginning of Conference USA play. After dropping two of three to Memphis last weekend, SLU used 17 hits to defeat Bradley 15-8.
The Billikens rode that momentum into their home contest against Harris-Stowe State College last night. The Bills capitalized on three errors and 10 walks by Harris-Stowe to win 15-5.
Eric Constable led off the bottom of the first with a walk. After a single by Kurt Evans, Nick Steiner drove in Constable with a groundout to second. Adam Shea grounded out to first and drove in Evans. From there, the Bills never looked back.
The Billikens added another run in the second. Jim Bredenkoetter walked and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Brandon Shockley brought Bredenkoetter home with a single to right-center.
The Bills pushed their lead to 5-0 in the third inning. Evans walked to lead off the inning. He stole second, went to third on an errant throw by HSSC catcher Tim Dierkes and scored when the centerfielder bobbled the ball. Shea was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Mike Orrico.
Harris-Stowe rallied in the fourth. With one out, Leroy McCauley singled and Jeremy Enderle walked. After a fielder’s choice advanced both runners, Greg Bunton singled both in.
Evans reached on a fielding error by Bredenkoetter and scored on a double by Dierkes. HSSC scored four runs in the inning before Josh West flew out to right fielder John McLaughlin.
Harris Stowe tied the game in the top of the fifth. McCauley singled with one out and scored on a double by Shaun Duvall. Dan Parker ended the rally by snatching Evans’ linedrive up the middle and forcing Bunton out at first.
Bredenkoetter singled with one out in the sixth and scored on a Shockley single. Shockley scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.
The Bills chased eight runs home in the eighth to put the game out of reach. SLU capitalized on control problems by Bill George. He allowed the first five Billiken batters to reach base and was lifted for Andy Portel.
Portel didn’t fair much better. Evans singled and took second on an error by third baseman Josh West. SLU’s onslaught continued in the inning. George was charged with 11 earned runs and Portel with two.
Parker started the ninth and was replaced by Jacob Baumgartner after allowing a leadoff single and a walk to the next hitter. Baumgartner walked the first batter he faced, Fitzgerald, but then settled down.
He forced McCauley to pop out to Bredenkoetter and struck out Enderle and Duvall to close out the victory for the Billikens.
SLU improved to 10-13 overall and is 2-4 in C-USA play.
“Tonight, we had nothing to gain and a lot to lose. When we struggled in the fourth and fifth innings, I give a lot of credit to our kids. They kept their composure and hung in there,” Hughes said. “It’s tougher to play a team like that than Florida State. There’s more pressure. We got good bullpen help from Parker and Jake did a great job.”
The Bills face Southern Miss this weekend. “They’re undefeated in conference play. We have the capabilities to compete. If we get consistency, we’ll play well this weekend,” Hughes said.
