April 7, 2007

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

AMBLER, PA - After taking the first game of the three-game Atlantic 10 series on Friday, the La Salle University Baseball team lost both ends of a doubleheader with the Saint Louis Billikens, Saturday at Skip Wilson Field, dropping the first game, 11-0, and the second, 5-3.

Runners left on base was the key to the Explorers downfall in both games, leaving six on through the first three innings in the first game, while the game was still in doubt, and 11 total in the second.

After Kenny Elkind worked a perfect top of the first for La Salle, Rich Prall singled and moved to second when John Rickards reached base on an error in the bottom of the first. But like they would do in the next two innings as well, the Explorers would strand runners at first and second. After the third inning, they had just two hits and never had a runner get to third base.

Saint Louis' Greg Rodgers led off the top of the second with a solo home run to right field and that was all the run support that Eric Rohr would need. The senior threw a five-hit shutout, while striking out just two batters and did not issue one walk. It was his second complete game shutout of the season, fourth of his career, and he shut out the La Salle for the first time this season.

Unfortunately for La Salle's John Malloy, he was not one of the Explorers to get a base hit against Rohr, ending the freshman's 24-game hitting streak. (Further research is being done, but it is believed to be the La Salle record, the A-10 record for a freshman, and the second longest streak ever for an A-10 player.)

Rohr improved his record to 3-3 with the victory, while Elkind (1-3) suffered the loss after going 6.1 innings allowing four earned runs and striking out three batters.

In the second game, the Billikens plated an unearned run in the first which was matched by La Salle in the bottom of the second, but it could have been a lot more.

La Salle (10-16, 3-6 A-10) loaded the bases with nobody out, but their second double play of the game resulted in a second and third with two gone. This time Billy Kern did come through with a two-out hit, singling to right field scoring Davis Hewett to knot the score at 1-1. However, they would leave two men on to end this inning - something they did in the third and fourth, as well, which kept the game tied.

Saint Louis (7-26, 3-6 A-10) broke through in the sixth, when Rodgers and Blake Bratcher hit back-to-back RBI singles, which was followed by an RBI double by Bill Musselman to give the Billikens a 4-1 lead. Bratcher then scored on a wild pitch before La Salle reliever TJ Chism ended the frame with a pair of Ks.

The Explorers cut the lead to 5-3 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth - the key hit a two-out two-RBI single by Justin Hander, which scored Mike Dertouzos and Kern - but would not get closer the rest of the way.

Dave Sever improved to 2-4 with the win, after throwing six innings and striking out five. He did allow 12 base hits, but only three runs. Craig Muschko (0-1) took the loss after going 5.0 innings and allowing three earned runs. BJ Rodrigue picked up Saint Louis' first save of the season after finishing the game in the ninth.

La Salle is at Penn this Wednesday starting at 3 PM, then takes on Saint Joseph's over the weekend.