(Courtesy Saint Louis Athletics)
The Billikens scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat George Washington 5-4. SLU rises to 17-9 with the win and 6-0 in Atlantic 10 play. Matt Eckelman (2-1) gets the win in relief.
Saint Louis scored first on an RBI single from Mike Vigliarolo in the first inning, but GW answered with three runs in the top of the second.
The Billikens scored again in the bottom of the fifth, on an Alec Solé single up the middle, to draw within one. Saint Louis sent the potential tying runner home, but he was caught at the plate on a throw from center field.
Each team scored in the sixth, bringing the tally to 4-3 in favor of GW.
In the seventh, Eckelman entered for SLU. He finished the game for the Billikens and did not allow a single base runner over his three innings.
In the bottom of the ninth, SLU trailed by one with the nine-hole hitter coming to the plate. Josh Bunselmeyer entered the game as a pinch hitter. He lifted a fly ball to right field, and a misplay from George Washington allowed him to reach second, representing the tying run. The next batter, Solé, reached on a throwing error from third. He advanced to second when the ball went out of play. Solé advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Michael Bozarth. With one out, and the winning run at third, Vigliarolo came to the plate. George Washington called for the intentional walk of Vigliarolo. However, the first pitch of the free pass went below the catcher’s mitt, allowing Solé to score and give SLU the 5-4 win.
Bozarth drew a pair of walks in the contest, extending his on-base streak to 33 games (eight in 2013). Colton Frabasiliois in the midst of an 11-game on-base streak and Jake Henson has reached safely in 10 consecutive games.
The Billikens will travel to in-state rival Missouri State on Tuesday, April 1st at 6:30 p.m. Freshman RHP Robert Plohrwill get the ball for Saint Louis.
