Saint Louis baseball traded runs with visiting La Salle for nine innings but the Billikens ultimately fell to the Explorers 12-10 in 10 innings. Matt Eckelman (1-1) was hit with the loss as the Billikens fall to 21-12 overall and 4-3 in Atlantic 10 games.
Both teams traded runs throughout the contest, leading to a 6-6 tie through eight innings.
In the top of the ninth, La Salle scored three runs to take a lead over the Billikens. However, two costly errors from the Explorers and timely hits from Saint Louis tied the score at nine.
La Salle scored three additonal runs in the top of the 10th. In the bottom, freshman Justin Walker hit a two-out solo home run to left center to draw within two, but the Billikens fell 12-10. It was Walker’s first career round-tripper.
Jake Henson was SLU’s top hitter in the contest. He was 3-5 with three runs scored, two RBIs and his eighth home run of the year. Henson leads the Billikens in home runs and RBIs (37).
Game two of the three game series will begin tomorrow, April 11 at 2 p.m. at the Billiken Sports Center. Sophomore Zach Girrens will start for SLU.
