UMSL Splits Season Opening Doubleheader

Rivermen Win Opening Game in Final At Bat

Sauget, Ill. – The Missouri-St. Louis baseball team opened their season in non-baseball like weather, splitting a doubleheader with Saint Joseph’s on Saturday afternoon at GMC Stadium in Sauget, Ill. Playing in 40-degree weather and in cold winds, UMSL won the first game 5-4, scoring in the bottom half of the last inning for the win. SJC came back to win the second game of the doubleheader 12-4.

UMSL got on the board with a single run in the first inning, but Saint Joseph’s came back to get three runs in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, UMSL got a leadoff home run from Adam Whitehead (Festus, Mo./Festus) to cut the deficit to one run. Nico Gregali (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South) then hit a two run triple with two outs to give the Rivermen a 4-3 lead going into the last inning. The Pumas put a run on the board to tie the game at 1-1, but UMSL came through in the final inning for the win. Josh Morgan (St. Louis, Mo./St. Mary’s) led off with a single to left field, and two batters late, Whitehead came through with a triple to centerfield, scoring Morgan and give UMSL the 5-4 win.

In the second game, Saint Joseph’s scored the first runs of the game, getting two in the top of the first. UMSL would get on the board with a single run in the second, but the Pumas answered with a run in the fourth inning to lead 3-1. The Rivermen got a sacrifice fly from Zack Sheets (Rockford, Ill./Harlem), but Saint Joseph’s answered again in the fifth with two runs to take a 5-2 lead. The Pumas then added to their lead in the late innings for the 12-4 win.

Adam Whitehead went 4-for-9 on the day with two runs, two home runs and four RBI. Josh Morgan went 4-for-8 with three runs, two doubles, a triple and a pair of stolen bases on the day and Nico Gregali went 4-for-6 in the two games.

UMSL is 1-1 on the season and 1-1 in the GLVC. The Rivermen will host Saint Joseph’s again on Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at 12 pm.