SLU slugger Cole Smith blasts a two-run home run in the Billikens’ win over Rhode Island on Saturday. (Photo: Cedric Williams)
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
| SLU | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 7 | 11 | 0 |
WP: Evan Gray – SLU (1-1) LP: Connor Johnston – URI (1-2)
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
ST. LOUIS, MO — The Saint Louis University baseball team finished off its first sweep of the Atlantic 10 Conference season on Saturday, when it defeated Rhode Island for the third time in a row. This time the final score at the Billiken Sports Complex was 7-3.
Saint Louis got three hits from Easton Richter and two hits apiece from Cole Smith and Tyler Fogarty to lead its offense, and matched that with a strong effort from four relief pitchers, who combined to toss 5 1/3 scoreless innings against a Rhode Island club that chased started Owen Chaffin out of the game after he gave up three runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Smith’s first hit was a two-run homer, deep over the wall in left field, which gave SLU an early 2-0 lead. Rhode Island responded with the three runs in the fourth to go ahead 3-2.
But the Billikens responded right back by scoring four runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. SLU sent eight men to the plate in that inning, which began with back-to-back singles by Austin Neuweg and Easton Richter.
Ethan Sitzman was hit by a pitch to load the bases, which brought A-10 leading hitter Patrick Clohisy to the plate. He was also hit by a pitch, which drove in a run and tied the game.
Smith drove in his third run of the game on a fielder’s choice to give the Billikens the lead. But the big blow of the inning was a smash double over the centerfielder’s head off Fogarty’s bat that drove in Sitzman and Smith and gave Saint Louis a 6-3 lead.
Neuweg drove in an insurance run in the seventh to provide the final score of the game.
Relievers Evan Gray, Jack Weber, Ethan Bell, and Easton Richter, who began the game as SLU’s designated hitter, held the Rams scoreless to close out the victory for the Billikens. Gray got the win and is 1-1 on the season.
Saint Louis is now 19-6 on the season and 3-0 in A-10 league play. Rhode Island is 5-16 and 0-3.
SLU will now get a couple of days off for the holiday, before returning to action on Tuesday, April 2, with a home game against SIU-Edwardsville. First pitch at the Billiken Sports Complex that day is scheduled for 4 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Logo | Team | Inning | Play Description | URI | SLU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | SLU | 3rd | SMITH, C homered to left field, 2 RBI; SITZMAN scored. | 0 | 2 |
 | URI | 4th | Anderson flied out to cf, SF, RBI; Moroney scored. | 1 | 2 |
| URI | 4th | Depino doubled to left field, RBI; Hopko scored. | 2 | 2 |
| URI | 4th | Hindle singled up the middle, RBI; Depino scored. | 3 | 2 |
| SLU | 4th | CLOHISY hit by pitch, RBI; SITZMAN advanced to second; RICHTER advanced to third; NEUWEG scored. | 3 | 3 |
| SLU | 4th | SMITH, C reached on a fielder’s choice, RBI; CLOHISY out at second ss to 2b; SITZMAN advanced to third; RICHTER scored. | 3 | 4 |
| SLU | 4th | FOGARTY doubled to center field, 2 RBI; SMITH, C scored; SITZMAN scored. | 3 | 6 |
| SLU | 7th | NEUWEG reached on a fielder’s choice; CUSUMANO out at second 3b to 2b; MASTROS advanced to third, scored on a throwing error by 2b, unearned. | 3 | 7 |
SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS 2024 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2, 2024 (Tuesday) | 4 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) |