The Saint Louis University baseball team was swept in its Conference-USA opening series by University of Alabama-Birmingham last weekend.
The Billikens struggled mightily in the first game of the series, losing 12-1. Senior third baseman Drew Eder accounted for the Billikens' lone RBI; his single up the middle in the third inning plated junior centerfielder Jon Guyre. Eder's RBI pulled the Billikens within 3-1, but the Blazers responded with a five-run fourth inning to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
Junior Tim Landy (1-3) gave up eight runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings of work.
Blazer catcher Rush Knight took Landy deep in the first inning with a two-run homer, and first baseman Nathan McCorkle teed off for a three-run home run in the fourth.
UAB out-hit the Billikens 13-8, and six UAB starters had two hits. The second game featured stellar pitching from both teams, with the Billikens eventually falling 3-2. Sophomore Eric Rohr, who started his first game of the season, allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out four in seven innings of work.
The Billikens struck first in the fifth innings with back-to-back hits by sophomore catcher Casey Moore and Tim Landy to take a 2-0 lead.
The Blazers tied the game in the sixth after third baseman Zac Ward's two-RBI single.
Rohr retired UAB in order in the seventh before giving the ball to junior Etienne Ratte-Delorme. UAB scored the go-ahead run in the eighth on a walk, a hit batter and a wild pitch.
The Billikens had runners on second and third with one out in the ninth, but the Blazers got out of the inning and held on to preserve the win.
The Billikens recorded another strong pitching performance in the series finale. Once again, they had trouble manufacturing runs, losing 2-1.
Sophomore Ryan Bird allowed one run on five hits while striking out a career-high nine batters in 7.1 innings of work.
The Billikens held the Blazers without an RBI, but gave up two runs on wild pitches.
Bird gave up just one hit through the first four innings, but ran into problems in the fifth. He gave up a pair of singles with one out and allowed a run to score on a wild pitch.
SLU responded immediately in the sixth. Sophomore Johnny Sweeney led the inning off with a double. Landy doubled later in the inning to tie the game at 1-1.
Bird left the game with one out in the eighth with runners on second and third.
Freshman B.J. Rodriguez threw a wild pitch to the first hitter he faced, allowing the Blazers to score the go-ahead run.
Sophomore catcher Bill Musselman led off the ninth and reached base on an error. After senior John Bridges drew a walk, sophomore Chris Bachkora came in to pinch run for Musselman. With the tying run in scoring position, senior shortstop Pat Steinhoff grounded out to end the game.
"We had amazing performances by Ryan Bird and Eric Rohr," Eder said. "It is disappointing that we couldn't score some runs for them. Last weekend our pitchers struggled and this weekend our hitters couldn't get it going."
"We had trouble putting runs on the board this weekend. We struggled to move runners and were unable to drive them in during key situations," Sweeney said.
"We hit some balls well and were just a hit or two away from breaking things open a couple of times. We are still seeking to put together a complete game with quality pitching and hitting. We need to find a way to win these close games," he added.
The Billikens (2-13, 0-3 C-USA), play five games this week. They travel to play Bradley today and then, a three-game set against No. 22 TCU.
While the Billikens have had a disappointing season thus far, Landy believes it is too early to throw in the towel.
"We just have to keep coming out and fighting. Our record doesn't show it, but we are improving," he said. "There were some very positive things that happened this weekend. We just have to carry those over and turn them into wins."
