After winning three of their last four games, the Billiken baseball team dropped two of three to A-10 foe Universitiy of Massachusetts in St. Louis over the weekend, splitting a pair of one run games and capping off the series with a 12-0 drubbing. After a hot start to the season, including a 13 game winning streak, the Billikens are now 26-13 overall with an 8-7 record in conference play.
The first game of the series was a 6-5 heartbreaker for the Billikens as the Minutemen broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the ninth and were able to hold down the Billiken bats in the bottom of the inning to earn the win. Junior Alex Alemann got the start for the Billikens but was hit hard giving up nine hits and four earned runs in four innings of work.
The loss, however, went to freshman James Norwood who pitched 3.1 innings in relief giving up four hits and one earned run. A bright spot for the Billikens was senior Travis Parker who threw his 28th straight inning without giving up an earned run.
“Baseball is an up and down game. One minute you’re a top 30 team in the country and the next you’re in 7th place in the Atlantic 10. It’s hard at times but that is why this game is so mental,” said Connor Gandossy.
In the second game of the series, the Billikens were able to get in the win column with a 3-2 victory over the Minutemen. The Minutemen scored 2 quick runs in the top of the third to take an early lead but the Billikens responded in the bottom of the inning with a run, and then again in the 4th and 5th with a run in each inning.
SLU’s pitching was much better this game as starter Clay Smith struck out five players and only allowed six base runners in his eight innings of work. Travis Parker wrapped up the game for the Billikens in the 9th, recording his 6th save on the season.
In the rubber match of the series the Billikens struggled, suffering their first shutout of the season in a 12-0 loss. The minutemen opened the game with a 6 run first inning and never let up, scoring in all but 2 innings.
Billiken pitcher Damian Rivera took the loss for the Billikens, dropping his record to 3-4 on the season. Freshman Alec Sole and Junior Mike Levine were the lone bright spots for the Billikens as Sole went 2-for-3 and Levine went 2-for-5. The Billikens will next take on SIU Edwardsville on Wednesday April 25 at home and then travel to Philadelphia to take on the LaSalle Explorers for a weekend series starting Friday, April 27.
When asked abou the possibility of playing in the College World Series, Alemann responded, “focus on one game at a time.”
