UMSL Sweeps Bellarmine

Davis Collects Five Hits in Doubleheader

St. Louis, Mo. – The UMSL baseball team swept a doubleheader from Bellarmine on Saturday afternoon, holding on for a close 5-4 win in the opener and belting out a 13-7 win in the second game.

Bellarmine got the first lead in the opening game with a single run in the second inning. UMSL came back to take the lead in with three runs in the third. Jonathan Mercer (Sullivan, Mo./Sullivan) got the scoring started with an RBI single and Scott Davis (High Ridge, Mo./Northwest) had a two-run triple for a 3-1 lead. Scott Sanders (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) would add an RBI single in the fourth to extend the UMSL lead. The Knights would cut into the lead with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth to make if 4-2, but UMSL responded with a sacrifice fly of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Bellarmine continued to fight back, scoring twice in the top of the seventh before UMSL closed out the 5-4 win.

The UMSL offense came out firing again in the second game, pounding out 14 hits and winning 13-7. The Rivermen gave up a run in the top of the first inning, but responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning as Scott Sanders, Jonathan Mercer and Scott Davis each had an RBI single in that inning. The Knights then tied the game in the second with three runs of their own, but UMSL reclaimed the lead as Logan Hughes (Walnut Shade, Mo./Branson) hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second for a 5-4 UMSL lead. Bellarmine got two runs in the top of the fourth for a brief lead, but UMSL would then claim the lead for good with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Colby Hughes (Walnut Shade, Mo./Branson) led off with a solo shot to left field that tied the game, and Scott Davis and Doug Wiles (Farmington, Mo./Farmington) each added RBI singles. Bellarmine would add a run again in the fifth, but UMSL came right back with one of their own to lead 10-7 after five innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Logan Hughes gave the Rivermen a little more cushion as he belted a three-run blast over the left centerfield fence for the 13-7 win. Dan Kriegshauser (Shrewsbury, Mo./C.B.C.) picked up the win with a big relief appearance, going 3.0 innings and giving up just one unearned run on four hits. Jonathan Pate (Wildwood, Mo./Eureka) pitched the last 2.1 innings to pick up his first save of the year.

On the day, Scott Davis went a combined 5-for-7 with five RBIs and Logan Hughes was 4-for-7 with four runs scored, four RBIs and his team leading sixth home run of the season. Scott Sanders added four hits from the plate as well.

The Rivermen are now 23-18-1 on the season and 18-10 in the GLVC. UMSL will be in action again on Sunday when they host Bellarmine for a doubleheader at 12 noon.