April 18, 2008

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Saint Louis sophomore designated hitter Mike Beal cracked a gram slam to key a seven-run fifth as the Billikens handed St. Bonaventure a 11-1 Atlantic 10 series-opening loss on a sunny Friday afternoon at Fred Handler Park at McGraw-Jennings Field.

The loss dips the Brown and White's (17-14) conference mark to 7-6 and allowed SLU (17-18, 5-8) to break a six-game A-10 road losing streak.

Five different Billikens finished with a multi-hit day, led by Beal who went 3-for-5 with five RBI. SLU's big inning came off of St. Bonaventure starter Jim Britton, lasted just four and two-thirds en route to dropping to 4-3 on the season.

As big a role the seven-run fifth figured into the outcome, Saint Louis starting pitcher Scott Turmail was just as crucial. The Bona bats yielded little resistance, as Turmail tossed eight innings allowing just five hits to improve to 6-2.

Junior Kevin Suminski drove in the lone run of the game for the Bonnies in the bottom of the third with a triple to right centerfield that scored classmate Ricky Pillitteri to make it 1-0.

It was all down hill from there, as Turmail retired eight-straight from that point until Suminski delivered another hit in the sixth.

In the process of Turmail's dominance, Saint Louis provided its starter with one run in the fourth and seven in the fifth for a commanding 8-1 edge. The Bills eight runs over two innings came on eight hits and two St. Bonaventure errors.

Saint Louis added three more runs in the eighth off of sophomore reliever Dennis Sherba for the final 11-1 outcome.

Sherba tossed two and two-thirds of relief of Britton. Fellow sophomore Cory Sudbrook struck out both of his outs and freshman Aron Meindl hurled a scoreless ninth.

The series will resume on Saturday with game two starting at noon.