(Courtesy Saint Louis Athletics)
Saint Louis baseball ripped five home runs in a 12-4 win over Rhode Island. Braxton Martinez and Josh Bunselmeyer hit two homers apiece, while Jake Henson hit one. Bunselmeyer, Henson and Martinez combined to go 6-12 with five round-trippers, six runs and 12 RBIs.
Junior Josh Moore (3-1) earned the win as Saint Louis rises to 15-7 overall and 2-0 in conference games.
For the second game in a row, Rhode Island scored three runs in the top of the first inning. The Billikens responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Mike Vigliarolo hit an RBI single to give SLU its first run. Martinez followed up with his first home run of the day, tying the game at 3-3.
Rhode Island hit a sacrifice fly in the second to regain the lead 4-3. Saint Louis again responded in the bottom the inning when Martinez hit his second bomb of the day, a three-run shot to left center.
In the third inning, Bunselmeyer ripped a solo shot to right to give SLU a 7-4 lead through three innings.
Bunselmeyer hit his second home run of the day in the fifth, a two-run dinger to right center.
The Billikens plated three more runs in the sixth. An RBI double from Colton Frabasilio and a two-run home run from Henson, giving SLU a 12-4 victory.
Today’s game marks the third and fourth time this season a Billiken has hit multiple home runs in a game. Saint Louis had one multi-HR game last season (Martinez with two on 3/8/14 against North Dakota). The Billikens have not had individuals with multiple multi-HR games since the 2010 season. Jon Myers had three multi-HR games in 2010.
Saint Louis and Rhode Island conclude the series tomorrow, March 22, at the Billiken Sports Center. Sophomore Zach Girrens will start on the hill for SLU. First pitch is set for noon.
