April 5, 2008

Box Score

SAINT LOUIS, MO - For the second straight day, the La Salle University Baseball team dropped a three-run game to Saint Louis, this time 4-1 on Saturday, in Atlantic 10 action at The Billiken Sports Center.

La Salle starter Drew Gerhart threw his second career complete game, but suffered the loss, dropping his record to 0-4 this season. Saint Louis starter Dave Sever also went the distance and improved to 2-4 in 2008.

In the first, the Billikens got all the runs they would need in the game, as back-to-back doubles by Tom Pinnell and Mike Beal scored a pair.

The Explorers would cut that deficit in half in the third with a two-out rally. John Malloy singled to right center and moved to third on Justin Handler's single. John Rickards, who had three hits in the game, followed with a double down the right field line to score Malloy, but Sever got the final out to avoid anymore damage.

Saint Louis (13-13, 4-4 A-10) responded with another pair in the bottom of the frame. Andrew Guerra, who had three hits on the afternoon, hit a two-run home run to left field, increasing the Billikens lead to 4-1.

Gerhart allowed just four hits the rest of the way, eight total, and struck out six, including two in the eighth looking. However, he walk three batters - two which came around to score.

Meanwhile, the Explorers were getting men on base, just could not get them home. In all but the second and ninth innings, La Salle had baserunners, including two on in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. However, they left 10 runners on, opposed to Saint Louis' five.

Sever allowed 10 hits, walked one and hit two batters, but was helped by two double plays and struck out eight batters, including Ks to end the threats in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh.

Handler and Mike Canfarotta each reached base three times in the game, as both had two hits and were each hit by a pitch.

La Salle (4-25, 0-8 A-10) will complete its three-game A-10 series with Saint Louis on Sunday with a game at 1 PM EST.