This past weekend the Saint Louis University baseball team hosted national power Texas Christian University in a three-game series. While the team played like its perceived conference doormat status in the first two games, but in the final game the team loosened up and demolished the number 22 team in the nation. By the end of the weekend SLU showed that it could compete with any team.
In the opener, TCU showed why they are one of the elite teams in Conference USA, as they dominated SLU 10-0. SLU had many opportunities to score, but failed to capitalize, leaving nine runners on base. Senior infielder Patrick Valdez went 3-4 in the loss. Despite his individual efforts, Valdez was nevertheless distraught by the outcome of the game.
"Games like these are real tough; I would trade a 3-4 individual day for a win any day of the week," Valdez said.
For the double-header on Saturday, it seemed as if two completely different SLU teams showed up. In the first game the team's futility was reminiscent of the opener. The team managed a meager two hits and came up with only one run. Conversely, TCU had 15 hits and crossed home 13 times. The 13-1 loss left a familiar taste in the team's mouth. The loss was SLU's 11th straight, and it appeared that the team would be swept for its third straight series.
The team was winless in conference play at this point, searching for answers and befuddled that their talent was not resulting in victories. After a team meeting SLU went back to work for game number three.
In the series finale, the Bills found themselves down 2-0 in the third inning. The team used small ball to get back in the game. Junior Tim Landy led off the inning with a single. After sophomore Neil Graser was walked, junior Jon Guyre moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice.
Senior infielder Pat Steinhoff then brought home two runs with a single through the right side. Finally, senior third baseman Drew Eder gave the Billikens their first lead of the series with a double that brought home Steinhoff.
"I knew I needed to step up when given the opportunity to start. TCU is one of the best teams in the nation. I just wanted to show the team what I could do on the hill in big game," Paulson said.
The floodgates opened in the sixth inning for SLU. The highlight of the inning came after the Horned Frogs intentionally walked Valdez to load the bases, and sophomore catcher Eric Musselman came to the plate. Musselman had been 2-3 prior to this at-bat, and made TCU pay for their questionable decision as he singled through the right side, bringing home two more runs. The Billikens went on to put up six in the sixth, giving the team an 11-2 advantage.
"In all my life no one had intentionally walked a guy just to get to me" Musselman said. "This just doesn't happen, I thought. But I just sort of laughed it off and had fun with it."
Musselman was 3-5 on the day. SLU went on to win the game by the score of 11-4, turning the tables on TCU with an offensive barrage of their own. Senior Pat Steinhoff went 2-4 with 4 RBIs, Valdez continued swinging the hot bat going 2-4 along with junior Tim Landy, who drove in two runs on two hits.
When asked about the dramatic metamorphosis that occurred on Saturday, Paulson commented, "One of our team's mottos is that we do everything together. We win together and we lose together. So we all agreed to loosen up and decided to just have some fun out there, win or lose. We started playing together like a team, the way we knew we could."
Musselman added, "This was a really big win for us in lots of aspects. We knew we were a good team with plenty of talent, but the numbers didn't reflect that. This win will give us an extra boost of confidence for the rest of season."
SLU followed up its win with a solid outing on Tuesday, defeating Southern Illinois 4-2.
Sophomore Ryan Bird pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run and striking out eight. The team is in the midst of a nine-game home stand. The team hosts Charlotte in a three-game series that begins Friday at 7 p.m. at the Billiken Sports Center.
Valdez added, "We realized we struggled out of the gates, but we've come a long way these past couple games. The breaks are finally starting to go our way."
