May 7, 2007

On Deck: Saint Louis (11-33, 7-10 A-10) takes the week off for exams before traveling to Massachusetts for a three-game Atlantic 10 series against the Minutemen. The series begins on Fri., May 11, at 2 p.m. (CT). Saturday and Sunday games are slated for 11 a.m.

Last Week: The Billikens mounted a pair of comebacks in sweeping a doubleheader from Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks surged ahead midway through each game before Saint Louis rallied behind a Blake Bratcher grand slam in game one and a Casey Moore three-run double in game two to win 6-4 and 5-3, respectively. Senior Ryan Bird picked up his first career save by wrapping up Dan Cowsert's first win of the season in game one. Senior Eric Rohr pitched his third complete game of the season, allowing just one earned run and striking out five in game two. Solid defense by the Hawks thwarted a ninth-inning Billiken rally on Sunday as Saint Joseph's avoided the series sweep with a 3-2 victory.

The Massachusetts Series: The Minutemen lead the series 3-0 after sweeping the Billikens in St. Louis last season.

Scouting the Minutemen: UMass enters the week with an 18-20 overall record and a 10-11 mark in A-10 play. The Minutemen will host Connecticut and travel to Northeastern before hosting the Billikens this weekend. UMass dropped two of three to Richmond last weekend, which ended its six-game winning streak. Sophomore infielder Adam Tempesta leads the UMass offense with a .299 average, and Jim Macdonald has a team-best 19 RBI, although all nine regular starters have driven in 10 or more runs this season. Junior right-hander Jim Cassidy leads the pitching staff with a 3.35 ERA and a 5-1 record in seven starts. As a team, the Minutemen are hitting .254 and score 4.9 runs per game. The pitching staff has a 5.14 ERA and has held opponents to a .293 average. Head coach Mike Stone is in his 20th season at UMass with a 512-411-2 record, pushing his 25-year career record to 566-501-4.

On the Watch: Senior right-hander Eric Rohr is on the 2007 Roger Clemens Award Watch List. The Clemens Award is administered by the Greater Houston Baseball Association and is the only award of its kind, honoring the finest pitchers in college baseball. The first stage of voting by NCAA Division I baseball coaches begins this week, and the 10 semifinalists will be announced on May 17. Fellow A-10 pitchers Jaime Degidio of Rhode Island and Adam Mills and Spencer Steedley of Charlotte are also on the Watch List.

For the Record: With seven strikeouts and six innings pitched at Fordham on April 20, senior right-hander Ryan Bird became the SLU career record holder in both categories. Over his four-year career, Bird has amassed 273 strikeouts, surpassing John Marcum's record of 269, and has pitched 359-2/3 innings, eclipsing Ben Hutton's record of 354. Bird needs just one more start to tie Dan Wetzel's school record of 55 games started on the mound.

What About Bob? Now in his 19th season at Saint Louis, Billiken head coach Bob Hughes has a 358-632-1 record after guiding the 2006 team to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1966. The 2006 squad posted a school-record 32 wins and claimed the Atlantic 10 Tournament title in SLU's first year in the league after entering the event as the fifth seed. During his tenure at SLU, 14 Billikens have gone on to play professionally. In 2003, Hughes was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bird's Eye View: Senior right-hander Ryan Bird (Potomac, Ill./Armstrong Township) has a 3.69 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance ... holds the school record with 273 career strikeouts and 359-2/3 innings pitched ... will tie the school record of 55 career starts with next start ... collected his first career save in just his second career relief appearance, holding off a ninth-inning rally in the first game against Saint Joseph's.

B.B. King: Junior outfielder Blake Bratcher (Goodlettsville, Tenn./Volunteer State CC) is hitting .260 and has 21 RBI ... added a single in the second Saint Joseph's game after launching his first career grand slam to put the Billikens up in the seventh inning of the series opener.

Dapper Dan: Senior right-hander Dan Cowsert (St. Louis, Mo./SWIC) has made two starts and 16 appearances out of the bullpen ... allowed just two hits in 2-1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the Saint Joseph's finale ... collected his first win of the season with 1-2/3 innings of hitless relief in the first game against the Hawks.

Extra Crespi: Senior outfielder Ryan Crespi (Sparta, N.J./Sussex County CC) is hitting .291 with a team-high 10 stolen bases ... is in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak ... is hitting a team-high .344 in A-10 play, including a .545 average against Saint Joseph's last weekend ... singled in a run in the Saint Joseph's series finale ... was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base in the second game against the Hawks ... added two hits, including a double, in the first Saint Joe's game.

Well Dunn: Freshman outfielder J.D. Dunn (Franklin, Tenn./Centennial) has a .220 average and nine RBI in 35 games, including 29 starts ... singled and scored a run in the Saint Joseph's series finale ... drove in a run on two hits, including a double, in the second game against the Hawks.

Brock Steady: Senior right-hander Brock Hewitt (Boerne, Texas/Trinity) has one save and a 6.17 ERA in 10 starts and five relief appearances ... struck out five and allowed just one earned run in 6-1/3 innings in the series opener against Saint Joseph's but did not figure into the decision.

Ryno: Sophomore infielder Ryan Johnson (Creve Coeur, Mo./Rockhurst) is hitting .208 in 19 games, including three starts ... ripped a double in the Saint Joseph's series finale ... added a single and scored a run off the bench in the second game against the Hawks.

The G.M.: Senior infielder Gilbert Marlowe (Glendale, Mo./SWIC) has played in 38 games, including 31 starts ... singled in the first Saint Joseph's game.

Moore Power: Senior catcher/infielder Casey Moore (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Wentzville Holt) is hitting .264 with a team-high 25 RBI ... is tied for the team lead with a career-high 13 doubles ... hit .455 with four RBI last week ... added a pair of singles in the Saint Joseph's series finale ... singled and put the Bills on top with a three-run double in the second game against the Hawks ... singled in a run in the first Saint Joseph's game.

A Little Moore Power: Sophomore infielder Ziggy Moore (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Wentzville Holt) has eight RBI in 36 games, including 34 starts ... has made seven appearances on the mound with a bullpen-best 3.38 ERA ... doubled in a run and came around to score in the Saint Joseph's series finale ... scored a run in each game of the doubleheader against the Hawks.

Mussel Beach: Senior catcher Bill Musselman (Homer Glen, Ill./Providence Catholic) is hitting .285 with 20 RBI and is tied for the team lead with 13 doubles ... has moved into ninth place on SLU's career doubles list with 37 ... ranks 12th in school history with 159 career starts and is among the program's top 20 with 163 career hits and 227 career total bases ... drew a career-high three walks, including one with the bases loaded, and was hit by a pitch in four plate appearances in the first Saint Joseph's game.

Pinpoint: Sophomore infielder Tom Pinnell (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) leads the team with a .313 average ... has moved into the program's all-time top 12 with 226 career assists ... was outstanding defensively with 11 assists and six putouts in the Saint Joseph's doubleheader while adding a hit and scoring once in each game.

Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood: Junior designated hitter/infielder Greg Rodgers (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles CC) is third on the team with a .285 average to go with 22 RBI ... has drawn a team-high 30 walks, 13 more than Bill Musselman in second place ... drew a walk in each game of the Saint Joseph's doubleheader.

On the Bayou: Junior pitcher/third baseman B.J. Rodrigue (Destrehan, La./Brother Martin) is hitting .295 in 31 games, including 29 starts ... has made 15 appearances on the mound for a 2-1 record, two saves and a 5.48 ERA ... added a single in the Saint Joseph's series finale ... picked up a single in each game of the doubleheader against the Hawks.

Rip Rohr-ing: Senior right-hander Eric Rohr (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) leads the team with five wins, tying his career high ... is second on the club with a 3.62 ERA in 11 starts and one relief appearance ... leads the team with a 2.79 ERA and four wins in A-10 play ... ranks seventh in school history with 14 career wins and is sixth with 163 career strikeouts ... also among the program's all-time top 20 with seven career complete games ... scattered eight hits with just one earned run and struck out five in the second game against Saint Joseph's.

Pennant Sever: Sophomore right-hander Dave Sever (Burr Ridge, Ill./Benet Academy) leads the team with a 3.38 ERA and has a 4-5 record ... leads the team with 61 strikeouts in 11 starts and two relief appearances ... struck out five but allowed three runs in 6-2/3 innings to take the loss in the Saint Joseph's series finale.

Elementary, My Dear: Freshman L.J. Watson (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) is hitting .204 in 25 games, including 11 starts ... was a defensive replacement in the ninth inning of the Saint Joseph's series opener.