March 6, 2008

On Deck: After having two games canceled due to weather, Saint Louis baseball looks to resume its season this weekend at the Hillcrest Ford Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas. The tourney, which is being hosted by Sam Houston State, will pit the Billikens against the host Bearkats on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by a 2:30 p.m. matchup with Texas-Pan American on Saturday and an 11 a.m. tilt against South Dakota State on Sunday.

About the Billikens: Saint Louis enters the week 2-4 after capturing one win in a three-game series against both Belmont and Samford. Junior right-hander Scott Turmail has picked up both victories on the hill for SLU, including his Belmont performance where he pitched a complete-game shutout en route to claiming Atlantic 10 Conference Pitcher of the Week honors. Sophomore left fielder David Blackwell paces the Billiken offense with a .444 average, while sophomore center fielder J.D. Dunn and junior infielder Tom Pinnell produce seven and six RBIs, respectively. As a team, the Billikens are hitting .239 and score 3.8 runs per game. The pitching staff has an 6.00 ERA and has allowed opponents a .291 batting average.

Scouting Sam Houston State: The Bearkats are 6-3 and host Texas-Pan American today prior to meeting the Billikens on Friday. SHSU, last season's Southland Conference champions, are in the midst of a busy week in which they play six games in six days. On Tuesday, the Bearkats upset 13th-ranked Rice in a 13-12 thriller that was decided in the bottom of the ninth. Catcher Mark Wyatt boasts a .563 average, while left fielder Bobby Verbick leads the squad with six home runs and 18 RBIs. Jacob Howard is the Bearkats' top starter with a 1-0 record and a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings. As a team, the Bearkats feature an explosive offense that hits .369 and scores close to 10 runs per game. The pitching staff has an 4.96 ERA and has allowed opponents a .298 batting average. Head coach Mark Johnson, who led Texas A&M to a pair of College World Series appearances, is in his second year at Sam Houston State. He has an all-time coaching record of 922-460-3.

The Series: The Bearkats and Billikens have never met on the diamond.

Scouting Texas-Pan American: The Broncs, who play Sam Houston State and South Dakota State before playing SLU on Saturday, enter the week with a 2-6 record. Right fielder Nick Bourn has played in four games and has a .750 average with four RBIs. Third baseman Jeremy Johnson hits .400, while first baseman Billy Donaho hits .294 with a team-high two homers and nine RBIs. Right-hander Phillip Rodriguez has pitched a team-high 11.1 innings with a 3.97 ERA. Right-hander Cody Cisper has a 1-1 record with a 5.23 ERA and a team-leading 12 strikeouts. As a team, the Broncs hit .282 and score 7.3 runs per game. The pitching staff has a 6.58 ERA and has allowed opponents a .317 batting average. Head coach Willie Gawlik is 99 -171 in his sixth season at the helm, 269-325 in 13 seasons overall.

The Series: The Broncs and Billikens have never met on the diamond.

Scouting South Dakota State: The Jackrabbits are 1-5 on the season after being swept at nationally-ranked Arkansas on Wednesday by a combined score of 33-5. South Dakota State, which plays Sam Houston State and Texas Pan-American before playing the Billikens, is led offensively by catcher Craig Parry's .353 average and three home runs. Lead-off hitting second baseman Korby Mintken follows with a .346 average, while first baseman Tyson Fischer leads the club with four RBIs. Right-hander Robert Butler has made two starts on the mound and has a 3.27 ERA to go along with a team-leading 12 strikeouts. As a team, SDSU hits .212 and has scored 3.0 runs per game. The pitching staff has a 7.74 ERA and has allowed opponents a .330 batting average. Head coach Reggie Christiansen, the 2007 Division I Independent Coach of the Year, is 74-90 in four years at the helm of the Jackrabbits.

The Series: Saint Louis leads the series 3-0 after sweeping the Jackrabbits in a three-game set at The Billiken Sports Center in 2006.

New Leader: Head coach Darin Hendrickson begins his first season as the Billikens' skipper. Hired in the summer of 2007, Hendrickson has found success at each of his three head coaching stops during his 12-year tenure. Most recently, he led Central Missouri State to three regular-season and tournament championships over the last four years and twice had his team in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. Previously, he led St. Louis Community College Forest Park to four NJCAA Super Regional championship games and Fontbonne University (St. Louis) to a conference title in just its third year of existence in 1998. Hendrickson has a 13-year career record of 492-178. He is assisted by Kevin Moulder, Will Bradley and volunteer assistant Danny Jackson.

Following the Action: All home games may be followed through GameTracker on SLU's official athletics website, www.slubillikens.com. All home games are played at The Billikens Sports Center, located on the eastern edge of campus adjacent to Chaifetz Arena.

Saint Louis vs. St. Louis: The Billikens played the St. Louis Cardinals on Feb. 27 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. While their home fields are just two miles apart in St. Louis, it was the first time the Billikens and Cardinals have ever met. The Cardinals won the game 15-2, with St. Louis area natives Casey Moore and Tom Pinnell picking up RBIs for the Billikens.

The Atlantic 10 Conference: Saint Louis is in its third season in the A-10. In their debut in 2006, the Billikens made a memorable run through the conference tournament and emerged as league champions, marking their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 40 years. The Billikens were picked to finish 10th out of 14 squads in the league race this season. The top six teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the A-10 Tournament, which for the first time will be played at a neutral site at Campbell Stadium in Camden, N.J., beginning May 21.

Early Season Accolades: Junior right-hander Scott Turmail tossed nine shutout innings at Belmont Feb. 23 in his first appearance in a Billiken uniform. He allowed just four hits and struck out three. For his effort, he was named A-10 Pitcher of the Week and was dubbed the Northeast Region Player of the Week by CollegeBaseballInsider.com.

Lefty: Freshman left-hander Joe Baumgartner (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell) had an inning of work in the first Samford game and allowed one run on one hit.

Beal Street: Sophomore designated hitter Mike Beal (St. Louis, Mo./Glendale CC) is hitting .250 after a pair of starts ... singled and scored a run in the last Samford game.

Back in Black: Sophomore left fielder David Blackwell (Shaker Heights, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) leads the team with a .444 average ...singled in the Samford finale ...went 3-for-4 with a run scored in the victory at Samford.

Well Dunn: Sophomore center fielder J.D. Dunn (Franklin, Tenn./Centennial) has started all six games in center ...hitting .250 with a team-best seven RBIs ... walked and drove in a run in the final Samford game ...lifted a two-run home run in the second game of the Samford series ...had an RBI groundout and stole a base in the first game at Samford.

Don't Mess with Texas: Sophomore infielder Andrew Guerra (Dallas, Texas/Rice) is tied for the team lead with four runs scored ...went 2-for-4 with a home run and a pair of runs scored in the victory at Samford ...singled and scored in the first game at Samford.

Curious George: Freshman right-hander George Hebert (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill) made his collegiate debut with two innings in the first Samford game.

The Mayor: Junior right-hander Chris Merrick (Cantonsville, Md./Cantonsville CC) threw a pair of innings in Samford finale, allowing no runs or hits but walking three.

Mach Speed: Junior infielder Matt Mach (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) came off the bench in the final game at Samford.

Moore Power: Senior catcher Casey Moore (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Wentzville Holt) is second on the club with three runs scored ...went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the Samford finale.

A Little Moore Power: Junior shortstop Ziggy Moore (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Wentzville Holt) is second on the team with a .333 average ...walked twice in singled in the Samford finale ...drove in a run in the second game against the Bulldogs ... singled in the first game at Samford.

Light's Out: Sophomore right-hander Zach Outman (St. Louis, Mo./Forest Park CC) has made two starts on the mound.

Hittin' BP: Sophomore right fielder Brandon Parsons (Stow, Ohio/Stow Munroe Falls) has five hits on the season, including a double and a triple ...tripled and scored in the final Samford game ... had three hits in the second game against Samford ...went 1-for-4 in the first game against the Bulldogs.

Extra Perks: Junior right-hander Brad Perkins (Collinsville, Ill./SWIC) tossed two innings of no-hit ball and picked up the save in the second Samford game.

Pinpoint: Junior infielder Tom Pinnell (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) has a .304 average and six RBIs ...went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in the Samford finale ... singled in the second Samford tilt ...walked, drove in a run, singled and scored in the first game against the Bulldogs.

Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood: Senior first baseman Greg Rodgers (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles CC) is hitting .263 ... has drawn a team-high eight walks ... singled and scored in the second game against Samford ... slugged a three-run homer in the first Samford game.

On the Bayou: Senior pitcher/third baseman B.J. Rodrigue (Destrehan, La./Brother Martin) has made two appearances on the mound in addition to 12 at-bats ...pitched the final two innings of the Samford finale, allowing two unearned runs on one hit while striking out two ... also cracked his first hit of the year, a double, and later scored.

Transfer Time: Junior right-hander Chaz Salembier (Brentwood, Mo./Ithaca College) pitched 1.2 innings in the second Samford tilt, yielding two runs on two hits.

Leave It To Sever: Junior right-hander Dave Sever (Burr Ridge, Ill./Benet Academy) has a 6.55 ERA after two starts on the hill ... tossed five innings in the first Samford game and surrendered five runs on nine hits while striking out five.

The Mailbag: Junior right-hander Scott Turmail (Florissant, Mo./Forest Park CC) has picked up both of SLU's wins on the mound ...has a 2.25 ERA with nine strikeouts ... opponents are hitting just .200 ... allowed four runs on seven hits in seven innings of work in the second Samford tilt.

Catching Some Zs: Junior left-hander Mark Zielinski (Maryland Heights, Mo./DeSmet) has made one appearance on the mound so far this season.

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