May 25, 2012

2012 Baseball Game 9 SLU-SJU

BRONX, N.Y.--Top-seeded Saint Louis got a three-hitter from starter Clay Smith to shut out Saint Joseph's 3-0 Friday in the 2012 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship.

The Billikens (41-17) advanced to Friday night's consolation bracket finals to play No. 5 Richmond. The winner of that game advances to Saturday's finals to play No. 2 Dayton. The Hawks were eliminated from the championship and finish the season with a 25-32 record.

Smith (7-2) went nine innings, striking out four batters and allowing no runs and three hits on 91 pitches to secure the win.  Jordan Carter (0-6) took the loss for SJU, throwing 4.1 innings, surrendering four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

Saint Louis scored twice in the top of the second inning when catcher Connor Gandossy hit an RBI single to drive in designated hitter Marco Diroma. Shortstop Alec Sole followed with another RBI single that scored right fielder Steve Fernandez. The Billikens pushed the lead to three on a a Grant Nelson single up the middle that plated Kelly.

Nelson, the third baseman, got his chance to cross the plate in the fifth inning on an outfield single by first baseman Mike Vigliarolo. SLU added its final two runs in the top of the ninth, first on a Brennan RBI single that scored pinch runner Jordan Hammerman. Diroma then stole third and scored on an attempted throw down from the catcher that sailed into the outfield.

The Hawks hits came in the third, fifth and ninth innings. Center fielder Brett Tiagwad went 2-for-3 to lead SJU. Centerfielder Jerry Mancuso was 2-for-5 to lead Saint Louis.