Zach Taylor (0-1) tossed seven strong innings on Saturday, scattering seven hits while allowing four runs (thee earned) to cross the plate. Taylor could not get out of the seventh inning, as the first two Saint Louis batters reached base. John Carbonell entered the game and recorded back-to-back flyouts, but David Blackwell recorded his only hit of the day at a crucial moment, knocking in two runs on an RBI single to center field.

 

Saint Louis jumped out in front in the top of the second inning, scoring a single run on an RBI groundout by second baseman Lucas Calderon. Evansville responded in the bottom of the inning on a set of hustle plays by Cody Fick. Fick reached base after being hit by a pitch, stole second base, advanced to third base on a groundout by Greg Wallace and scored on a headfirst drive into home on a sacrifice fly by Nate Smith.

 

The Billikens would not go quietly, scoring once again in the top of the third. Center fielder J.D. Dunn led off the inning with a triple down the right field line and touched home when the next batter, Danny Brock, grounded out to Peter Tountas at short.

 

The Aces would tie the game again in the bottom of the seventh, when pitch hitter Andy Smith laced a ball to left field to score Nate Smith. SLU would take the lead for good in the top of the inning, scoring two runs on the Blackwell single.

 

The early game of the Dunn Hospitality Classic saw another game winning hit in the bottom of the ninth. On Saturday, Eastern Illinois University came out victorious 7-6 over Butler University with the game winning hit coming off the bat of Curtis Restko.

 

Sunday will conclude the 2009 Dunn Hospitality Classic. The first game of the day will match Butler and Saint Louis at 11:00 a.m. The second game will pair Evansville and Eastern Illinois. First pitch of the Aces game is set for 3:00 p.m.