February 19, 2010

Arkansas-Monticello Nips Baseball in Opener

Box Score

MONTICELLO, ARK. - The University of Missouri-St. Louis baseball team lost its season opener, 6-5, in an 11-inning battle at Arkansas-Monticello Friday afternoon in the start of a four-game series.

The Cotton Blossoms, which won their seventh straight contest, improved to 8-1 on the season. UAM recorded the win in the bottom of the 11th with no outs when Blaine Ivey was hit by a pitch from junior Zach Sturdefant with the bases loaded.

Arkansas-Monticello scored twice in the first and second innings for a quick 4-0 lead before the Triton bats got going. Junior John Tierney doubled to lead off the fifth before advancing to third on a passed ball and later scored on a groundout by sophomore Zach Hulbert.

UMSL then scored twice in the seventh with seniors Dean Streed and Michael Hoosen recording RBIs. UAM made the score 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth with another run before the Tritons scored twice in the top of the ninth, forcing extra innings.

Junior Andrew Keating doubled down the left field line to score junior Kenny Bechaud before freshman Drew Standefer scored an unearned run on a passed ball.

Bechaud earned the start, working six innings, where he allowed four runs on seven hits. The hurler also struck out four, while walking two.

UMSL tallied 13 hits to the Cotton Blossoms nine with junior Matt Horton going 5-for-6. Streed finished 3-for-5 at the plate, while Keating tallied a pair of hits.

The series continues tomorrow with a pair of seven-inning contests.

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