SLU’s Austin Neuweg races around the bases during the Billikens’ win over Western Illinois on Friday. (Photo courtesy: SLU Athletics)
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLU (5-0) | 1 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 15 | 1 |
| Western Illinois (1-3) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
WP: Jackson Holmes – SLU (2-0) LP: Jason Buhl – WIU (0-1)
Jason Barnes
Staff Writer
MILLINGTON, TN — The Saint Louis University baseball team is off to its best start under head coach Darin Hendrikson.
That’s because the Billikens moved to 5-0 on Friday, when it defeated Western Illinois, 20-6, in the first game of a three-game set at USA Stadium, the home field of USA Baseball.
Saint Louis is 5-0 on the year and Friday was the Billikens’ fifth straight game of reaching double-digits in runs scored. SLU is averaging 15.9 runs per game and has tallied 70 hits and has drawn 51 walks in its five games.
On Friday, every Billiken starter had at least one hit, led by second baseman Ethan Sitzman, who had three hits — two doubles and a home run. He also drew two walks, drove in two runs, and scored four runs.
Middle of the lineup hitters Patrick Clohisy, Cole Smith, and Tyler Fogarty each had two hits. Clohisy had an RBI and scored three runs. Smith had three RBIs and also scored three runs, while Fogarty delivered the big blow of the day — a grand slam in the third inning — that put the Billikens up 11-0.
Other standout performers for the Billikens included Hayden Moore, who led off the game with a home run. It was his team-leading third banger ofthe season. And teammate Austin Neuweg, who hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning that put SLU up 18-1.
On the mound, starter Jackson Holmes (2-0) went five innings to get the win. The junior right-handed pitcher from Columbia, Ill., faced 24 batters, and gave up seven hits and four runs, while striking out three.
Relievers Will Bolinger and Josh Cunningham each pitched an inning to close out the game, which was called after seven innings due to SLU’s large lead.
The Billikens and Leathernecks will continue their series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS 2024 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |