SLU slugger Patrick Clohisy had five hits, six RBIs, and seven runs scored in the Billikens’ three wins to begin the 2024 season. (Photo courtesy: SLU Athletics)
Jason Barnes
Staff Writer
The Saint Louis University college baseball season began with a bang this weekend.
The Billikens played three games and won them all due to dramatic offensive explosion.
Saint Louis was at the Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla., and was supposed to play four games — two apiece against St. Thomas and Illinois State. Due to weather issues, the second game against Illinois State was cancelled. But in the three games it did play, SLU blasted away to earn its three wins.
The Billikens smashed 46 hits and scored 49 runs in the three games.
Saint Louis 21, St. Thomas 10
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis (1-0) | 7 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 20 | 1 |
| St. Thomas (0-1) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 3 |
WP: Jackson Holmes – SLU (1-0) LP: Evan Esch – St. T (0-1)
In its opener, which was played on Friday, Saint Louis defeated St. Thomas 21-10. The Billikens scored seven runs in the first inning, including a leadoff home run by Hayden Moore. SLU was up 16-2 after three innings.
Eight different SLU players had at least two hits, including Cole Smith and Tyler Fogarty, who each had three. One of Fogarty’s hits was a three-run homer in third inning that put the Billikens up 14-1.
Saint Louis 13, St. Thomas 8
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois State (1-1) | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 1 |
| Saint Louis (2-0) | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | X | 13 | 14 | 1 |
WP: Jack Weber – SLU (1-0) LP: Tyrelle Chadwick – ISU (0-1) SV: Evan Gray – SLU (1)
In Game 2, which was also played on Friday, SLU had to rally back from an early deficit to defeat Illinois State, 13-8. The Billikens had 14 hits in that game, including another homer by Moore and a double and a home run from sophomore shortstop Austin Neuweg.
Five Saint Louis players had two hits in that game. Moore and Neuweg both scored three runs, and junior right fielder Patrick Clohisy had four RBIs.
Saint Louis 15, St. Thomas 7
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas (1-2) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 5 |
| Saint Louis (3-0) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | X | 15 | 12 | 2 |
WP: Henry Litman – SLU (1-0) LP: Carl Cano – St. T (0-1)
In the final game of the weekend, which came on Saturday against St. Thomas, the Billikens again fell behind early, but were also able to rally. SLU scored 14 runs in the final four innings to win the game 15-7.
Neuweg was the hitting star again. He had three hits, three RBIs, and scored three runs. Moore also had three RBIs, to go along with two hits, two runs scored, and a stolen base.
The winning pitchers for SLU were Jackson Holmes in Game 1, Jack Weber in Game 2, and Henry Litman in Game 3. Evan Gray pitched a scoreless 2 1/3 innings to close out Game 2 and pick up that save.
The Billikens are now headed back home with a 3-0 record.
Fans will get a chance to see the team play in person, due to a new game that has been added to the schedule. SLU will play Lindenwood University at that school’s Lou Brock Sports Complex on Wednesday, February 23. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS 2024 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2024 (Wednesday) | 3 p.m. | Away | Lindenwood | St. Charles, Mo. |
| February 23, 2024 (Friday) | 2 pm | Neutral | Western Illinois | Millington, Tenn. |
| February 24, 2024 (Saturday) | 1 pm | Neutral | Western Illinois | Millington, Tenn. |
| February 25, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Neutral | Western Illinois | Millington, Tenn. |
| February 27, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3 pm | Away | SIU-Edwardsville | Edwardsville, Ill. |
| March 1, 2024 (Friday) | 3 pm | Home | Le Moyne | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 2, 2024 (Saturday) | 2 pm | Home | Le Moyne | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 3, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Home | Le Moyne | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 5, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3 pm | Home | Western Illinois | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 8, 2024 (Friday) | 3 pm | Home | Loyola-Marymount | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 9, 2024 (Saturday) | 2 pm | Home | Loyola-Marymount | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 10, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Home | Loyola-Marymount | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 12, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3 pm | Home | Missouri State | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 15, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Away | Southeastern Louisiana | Hammond, La. |
| March 16, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Away | Southeastern Louisiana | Hammond, La. |
| March 17, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Away | Southeastern Louisiana | Hammond, La. |
| March 18, 2024 (Monday) | 6:30 pm | Away | Tulane | New Orleans, La. |
| March 22, 2024 (Friday) | 3 pm | Home | Cincinnati | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 23, 2024 (Saturday) | 2 pm | Home | Cincinnati | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 24, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Home | Cincinnati | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 26, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3 pm | Away | Kansas | Lawrence, Kan. |
| March 28, 2024 (Thursday) | 3 pm | Home | Rhode Island | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 29, 2024 (Friday) | 2 pm | Home | Rhode Island | Billiken Sports Complex |
| March 30, 2024 (Saturday) | 12 pm | Home | Rhode Island | Billiken Sports Complex |
| April 2, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3 pm | Home | SIU-Edwardsville | Billiken Sports Complex |
| April 5, 2024 (Friday) | 3 pm | Away | Saint Joseph’s | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| April 6, 2024 (Saturday) | 2 pm | Away | Saint Joseph’s | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| April 7, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Away | Saint Joseph’s | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| April 9, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3 pm | Home | Southern Indiana | Billiken Sports Complex |
| April 12, 2024 (Friday) | 3 pm | Home | Davidson | Billiken Sports Complex |
| April 13, 2024 (Saturday) | 2 pm | Home | Davidson | Billiken Sports Complex |
| April 14, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Home | Davidson | Billiken Sports Complex |
| April 19, 2024 (Friday) | 3 pm | Away | Fordham | New York, N.Y. |
| April 20, 2024 (Saturday) | 1 pm | Away | Fordham | New York, N.Y. |
| April 21, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Away | Fordham | New York, N.Y. |
| April 23, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3 pm | Away | Lindenwood | St. Charles, Mo. |
| April 26, 2024 (Friday) | 3 pm | Away | George Washington | Washington, D.C |
| April 27, 2024 (Saturday) | 1 pm | Away | George Washington | Washington, D.C |
| April 28, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Away | George Washington | Washington, D.C |
| April 30, 2024 (Tuesday) | 4 pm | Away | Butler | Indianapolis, Ind. |
| May 3, 2024 (Friday) | 3 pm | Home | George Mason | Billiken Sports Complex |
| May 4, 2024 (Saturday) | 2 pm | Home | George Mason | Billiken Sports Complex |
| May 5, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Home | George Mason | Billiken Sports Complex |
| May 7, 2024 (Tuesday) | 4 pm | Home | Lindenwood | Billiken Sports Complex |
| May 10, 2024 (Friday) | 3 pm | Home | Dayton | Billiken Sports Complex |
| May 11, 2024 (Saturday) | 2 pm | Home | Dayton | Billiken Sports Complex |
| May 12, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Home | Dayton | Billiken Sports Complex |
| May 16, 2024 (Thursday) | 3 pm | Away | UMass | Amherst, Mass. |
| May 17, 2024 (Friday) | 1 pm | Away | UMass | Amherst, Mass. |
| May 18, 2024 (Saturday) | 12 pm | Away | UMass | Amherst, Mass. |
| May 21, 2024 (Tuesday) | TBA | Neutral | Atlantic 10 Championship | Tysons, Va. (Capital One Park) |