UMSL Drops Two Close Games

Rivermen Fall in Extra Innings in First Game

Sauget, Ill. – The Missouri-St. Louis baseball team suffered two close losses to 25th-ranked Saint Joseph’s on Sunday. The Rivermen lost the first game 3-2 in extra innings, then lost the nightcap 7-4 after taking a lead into the final inning.

UMSL got on the board in the third inning of the first game, as Nico Gregalo (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South) knocked in two runs with a hit that was misplayed by the Saint Joseph’s second baseman for 2-0 lead. The Pumas got a single run in the fourth to cut into the lead and would tie the game in the sixth inning. In the ninth, the Pumas took the lead with a single run to close out the 3-2 win. Matt Tesson (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) had both hits for UMSL in the game. Josh Morgan (St. Louis, Mo./St. Mary’s) started the game and got a no decision, but struck out ten hitters in 5.1 innings of work.

In the second game, the Pumas got on the board in the top of the first, but UMSL responded in the bottom half of the inning. After loading the bases with two walks and an infield bunt, Scott Lavelock (Pleasant Hill, Mo./Pleasant Hill) hit a two-run single to center giving the Rivermen the lead. Bryan Smith (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South) added a sacrifice fly later in the inning and UMSL held a 3-1 lead after one inning. Saint Joseph’s would cut into that lead with a single run in the second inning and later tied the game at 3-3 with another run in the fifth inning. UMSL took a lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Nico Gregali to take a 4-3 lead going into the final inning, but Saint Joseph’s rallied to get four runs to secure the 7-4 win. Mark Sanders (Creve Coeur, Mo./Parkway North) suffered the loss, going 6.1 innings and giving up seven runs, five earned, and eight hits.

UMSL is now 1-3 on the season after the opening weekend. The Rivermen will take a two week break before resuming play at Bellarmine on March 11 and 12.