The SLU Billikens took a 1 1/2 game lead in the Atlantic 10 Conference with Sunday’s win over Dayton. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton (31-18) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| SLU (36-12) | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 8 | 10 | 0 |
WP: Jack Weber – SLU (4-0) LP: Chris Peguero – UD (2-5) SV: Evan Gray – SLU (3)
Jason Barnes
Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS, MO — The Saint Louis University baseball team earned a critical win on Sunday, when it defeated Dayton University, 8-5, in the final game of their three-game set at the Billiken Sports Complex.
The win allowed Saint Louis to extend its first place lead in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings to a 1 1/2 games with just three games left in the regular season. SLU is 36-12 overall this season and 15-6 in conference play. Dayton is 14-6.
For the third-straight game, SLU found itself in an early deficit, giving up two runs in the top of the first inning. The visiting Flyers tacked on another run in the second, taking a 3-0 lead.
Cole Smith began the comeback for the Billikens in the bottom of the inning, smacking a two-RBI home run to left center field. It was the senior’s third homer of the season.
Easton Richter drove in the go-ahead run for Saint Louis in the ensuing inning, driving in two RBIs to give SLU its first lead of the day, 4-2. Another RBI courtesy of Smith extended the Billikens’ lead to three runs before Dayton answered scoring one of their own.
Richter and Smith each drove home another run in the fifth inning, and despite a final run from the Flyers, the Billikens took game three and the series.
On the mound, Jack Weber got the win for SLU, pitching 2 2/3 innings. In relief, Owen Kelly struck out four batters and Evan Gray two, the latter earning the save for a crucial 2 1/3 innings out of the pen.
The Billikens wrap up their regular season next weekend with a three-game series at the University of Massachusetts. The first game will begin Thursday at 2 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Logo | Team | Inning | Play Description | UD | SLU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | UD | 1st | MENDEZ, D. doubled to right field, RBI; PEDANOU, D. advanced to third; CALERO, K. scored. | 1 | 0 |
| UD | 1st | DOBIE, M. flied out to cf, SF, RBI; MENDEZ, D. advanced to third; PEDANOU, D. scored. | 2 | 0 |
| UD | 2nd | CALERO, K. singled to second base, RBI; TOMAINI, P. scored. | 3 | 0 |
 | SLU | 2nd | SMITH, C homered to left center, 2 RBI; FOGARTY scored. | 3 | 2 |
| SLU | 3rd | RICHTER singled down the rf line, 2 RBI; FOGARTY advanced to second; WINTERS scored; SITZMAN scored. | 3 | 4 |
| SLU | 3rd | SMITH, C singled through the left side, advanced to second, 2 RBI; RICHTER scored; FOGARTY scored. | 3 | 6 |
| UD | 5th | CASTILLO, C. singled through the right side, RBI; MENDEZ, D. advanced to second; PEDANOU, D. scored. | 4 | 6 |
| SLU | 5th | RICHTER singled to center field, RBI; FOGARTY advanced to third; WINTERS scored. | 4 | 7 |
| SLU | 5th | SMITH, C singled to center field, advanced to second, RBI; RICHTER advanced to third; FOGARTY scored, unearned. | 4 | 8 |
| UD | 6th | MENDEZ, D. singled to third base, RBI; ARIAS, I. advanced to second; TOMAINI, P. scored. | 5 | 8 |
SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS 2024 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |