Pitching had been the Saint Louis University Billikens strong suit. At least, it was until their home-and-home series with Southeast Missouri State.

In a home-and-home series on Tuesday and Wednesday the Billikens gave up a combined 23 runs to the Indians.

SEMO took the first game 13-1 and the second game 10-6. The Bills dropped to 11-14 after the pair of losses.

In yesterday’s game, the Bills were able to muster some offense, but the pitching still struggled. SEMO pounded out hit after hit and produced their second double-digit run output in as many days.

Billiken starter Brad Wehrfritz was in control early, but by the fifth inning, the Indians had him figured out. The Indians scored four runs in the fifth on four hits, including a three-run home run by designated hitter Brad Beatty.

After Beatty’s bomb, Wehrfritz managed to escape the fifth with no further damage.

Unfortunately, Wehrfritz couldn’t get through the sixth as he surrendered three more Indian runs before turning it over to freshman Dave Guntorius.

By the end of the sixth, the Indians had a commanding 9-3 lead.

The Indians did not look back from there and tacked on another insurance run in the seventh.

The Bills were able to score three in the seventh, but that was it for the offense on the day.

With the score 10-6 and two down in the ninth, the Bills loaded the bases, only to have sophomore Joe Boyer fly out to center, ending all chances of a miracle Billiken comeback.

For the Bills, the offense was respectable in Wednesday’s game.

Junior catcher Andrew Slania and Moss each had three hits in the game. In the two game series with SEMO, Moss was able to raise his average by 60 points.

Tuesday’s 13-1 loss was the Billikens worst loss of the season. The Bills had one of those games where they couldn’t hit, catch or throw. Nothing went right for the Billikens.

The Bills surrendered 15 hits, committed six errors, and were only able to muster seven hits.

When the Bills weren’t kicking the ball around, it was bouncing past their outstretched gloves.

The only bright spot that the Bills had was a ninth inning solo homerun by sophomore Steve Moss.

In his only at-bat of the afternoon, Moss took the first pitch of the ninth over the right field wall. Moss accounted for the only run scored and RBI of the game for the Bills.

Zach Placzek fell to 0-2 on the year after Tuesday’s loss. Placzek looks to have his velocity back, but struggled with his control. He is coming off off-season shoulder surgery and a recent laceration of his pitching hand.

In the two-game set with the Indians, the Bills team earned run average jumped from 4.47 to 4.96. What had been the Bills strength might be turning into the Bills’ weakness.

This weekend, the Bills need to get better pitching performances as conference rival Tulane comes to town.

Tulane is ranked 15th in the country and sports a 23-5 record on the year. The first game is set for Friday at 4 p.m., with the weekend games each beginning at 1p.m.

After Tulane the Bills will take on the Evansville Purple Aces this Tuesday at 1 p.m.