No. 11 USM Powers Past Billikens, 18-3
April 11, 2004
ST. LOUIS - One costly Saint Louis University error changed the complexion of a tight game in the fourth inning, and No. 11 Southern Miss went on to an 18-3 victory in Conference USA baseball action this afternoon at The Billiken Sports Center. The Golden Eagles (27-6, 10-2 C-USA) took advantage of a reeling Billiken pitching staff in posting a school-record nine home runs, including five in the pivotal fourth inning, despite a solid start from freshman Ryan Bird on the mound for the Bills (9-23, 1-10 C-USA).
After Bird retired the Golden Eagles in order in the top of the first, designated hitter John Bridges drew a leadoff walk and stole second to open the bottom of the frame. Senior Kyle Wort drove a two-out single up the middle to put the Bills on top early. Bird faced the minimum in the top of the second after catcher Casey Moore threw out Carlos Velasquez trying to steal second. The freshman right-hander worked around a walk in the third when the Billikens turned two with runners on the corners to maintain a 1-0 lead. Offensively, the Billikens got a double in both the second and third innings, but could not squeeze another run past USM starter Patrick Ezell.
Southern Miss opened the fourth with a bang as Marc Maddox put one over the center field wall. Jarrett Hoffpauir smacked one over the wall in right, and Ryan Frith rounded out the round-trippers with one over the fence in left. After a brief meeting on the mound, Bird settled in to record his fourth strikeout of the game, then got a fly ball for the second out. USM catcher Kevin Coker sent a ground ball to third, and it looked like Bird would be out of the inning trailing only 3-1, but a throw in the dirt to first sent Coker to second, and the floodgates opened for the Golden Eagle offense. A pair of singles scored another run and left two on base for Matt Shepherd's three-run shot to right, which also sent Bird to the dugout in favor of senior reliever Joe Buehler. Two singles and a pair of walks later, the Golden Eagles plated another run and set the table for Brad Willcutt's grand slam to right center, which capped a 12-run, nine-hit inning for USM. The Billikens got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on Patrick Valdez's home run to right, but the Golden Eagles would not let up at the plate. A sacrifice fly and a double plated two more runs in the top of the fifth to bring freshman Adam Schroeder to the mound for the Billikens. In the bottom of the fifth, SLU picked up another run when Pat Steinhoff was hit by a pitch, moved to second on Drew Eder's single and scored on Wort's double to left field. The Golden Eagles plated two more in the top of the sixth on solo home runs from Willcutt and Jason Lowery. Hoffpauir's solo shot to center and Jody Blount's pinch-hit home run to left rounded out the scoring for USM. Hoffpauir led all hitters with four hits in five at-bats, while Willcutt drove in five runs on two hits on the afternoon. Ezell remained perfect on the season in improving to 4-0 as he allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out seven. Bird took the loss after striking out four and allowing three earned runs on seven hits in 3-2/3 innings on the mound. The Billikens are back in action on Tue., Apr. 13, at 3 p.m. against regional rival Southeast Missouri State at The Billiken Sports Center. |
|
