UMSL Steals Doubleheader from Saint Joseph's

Sahrmann Throws Second Straight Shutout in Opener

St. Louis, Mo. – The UMSL baseball team stole a doubleheader, both literally and figuratively, winning the opener 4-0 and the second game 4-2 against Saint Joseph’s. The first game saw Kevin Sahrmann (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell) pitch his second straight complete game shutout in the win, and the second game saw the Rivermen outlast the Pumas in a pitchers dual. UMSL also ran wild against the Pumas, stealing a combined 12 bases in the two games.

Sahrmann was brilliant in the opener after a rough start, settling down and allowing just one hit in the complete game shutout, his second straight for the Rivermen. Sahrmann stumbled in the first inning, allowing the Pumas to load the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch, but got an easy ground out to escape with no runs scored. From there he put it on cruise control, allowing just one single in the second inning, and retired 11 straight hitters at one point in the game. The UMSL offense got two runs in the second on a two-run single by Scott Davis (High Ridge, Mo./Northwest) to get on the board. The Rivermen then added single runs in the third and fourth innings, getting an RBI single from Jason Barron (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood East) in the third and a sacrifice fly from Bryan Weiss (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell North) in the fourth. With the win, Sahrmann improves to 5-3 on the season and has now gone 15 innings without allowing a run.

The second game was a pitchers dual early between UMSL starter Greg Bierling (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University HS) and Saint Joseph’s starter Jim Cartwright. Over the first six innings, the two pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts while giving up a combined five hits. Bierling was in control early, striking out nine hitters through six innings, including striking out the side in the third. He allowed just two hits in the first six innings as well, giving up a double in the second and a single in the sixth. The Rivermen offense finally got to Cartwright in the seventh, scoring three runs in the inning. Scott Miller (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) got things started by beating out a hit up the middle and was followed by a single from Tony Grana (Ballwin, Mo./Lafayette). Bryan Weiss then came through with a clutch hit, knocking a two-run double to left to give UMSL the first lead of the game. Weiss would then score the third run of the inning for the Rivermen on an RBI single from Logan Hughes (Walnut Shade, Mo./Branson).

The Rivermen would add an insurance run in the eighth inning on an RBI single from Doug Wiles (Farmington, Mo./Farmington) for a 4-0 lead going to the ninth when the Pumas put together a rally. Saint Joseph’s got a bases loaded walk and then an RBI single from Scott Mertes to make it a 4-2 game before Colby Hughes (Walnut Shade, Mo./Branson) closed out the game with a strikeout for the final out. Greg Bierling picked up the win to improve to 6-1 on the season, going 7.0 innings and striking out nine while giving up no runs on five hits. Colby Hughes picked up his fourth save of the season after getting the final out on a strikeout.

UMSL improves to 34-13 on the season and 21-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Rivermen will face Saint Joseph’s again on Sunday at home for another doubleheader beginning at 12 noon. UMSL has already clinched first place in the conference regular season and will host the GLVC Tournament, May 8-11.