Tulane University
at Saint Louis
Bogusevic Blanks Billikens As Baseball Downs Saint Louis, 6-0
May 14, 2005 | Baseball
May 14, 2005
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Junior southpaw Brian Bogusevic struck out nine in an eight-inning start, and went 2-for-4 at the plate, as the top-ranked Tulane University baseball team defeated Conference USA foe Saint Louis, 6-0, Saturday afternoon at the Billiken Sports Center.
The Green Wave had just four hits through the first eight innings, but got the most out of the knocks as senior shortstop Tommy Manzella belted a two-run homer in the first and senior right fielder Matt Barket ripped an RBI-double in the eighth to give the visiting club a 3-0 advantage. Tulane blew the game open with a trio of runs in ninth, including Micah Owings' 15th home run of the season.
The game, however, belonged to Bogusevic (10-1) as the big lefty from Oak Lawn, Ill., gave up just four hits, allowed multiple base runners just once and had just two runners get as far as second base. After giving up three hits in the first four innings, he faced the minimum over his final four frames with a pair of three-up, three-down innings and getting a pair of inning-ending double plays in the sixth and seventh.
"Today looked like the type of Tulane team we've had for most of the year - having good pitching and defense, and getting some opportunistic, timely hits," head coach Rick Jones said. "We cut back (Bogusevic's) routine a bit this week to get his legs fresher, and it really paid off. Today, he was making pitches. His fastball had life, his breaking ball had depth, and he had command of it also."
With the win, Tulane clinched its eighth C-USA series of the season to improve to 44-8 overall and 21-5 in league play. Saint Louis, meanwhile, falls to 12-37 on the year and 7-19 in conference action.
A day after the two teams combined for 33 hits in a 16-7 Tulane win, the pitching combination of Bogusevic and Billiken ace Ryan Bird painted a much different picture on Saturday. While Boguevic was able to keep Saint Louis off the board, Bird did not fare as well as the sophomore right-hander gave up three runs on four hits in seven innings of work to fall to 4-5.
Junior centerfielder Nathan Southard was plunked to lead off the ballgame, and one out later, Manzella sent a first-pitch offering from Bird over the wall in left center to give Bogusevic all the run support he would need. Bird gave up a single to Bogusevic in the ensuing at-bat, but settled down to retire the next seven batters he faced and gave up just three baserunners via walk from the second through fifth innings.
A second single by Bogusevic was erased trying to steal second, but a leadoff walk by pinch-hitter Mark Hamilton came home to roost as senior catcher Greg Dini layed down a perfect sacrifice bunt, and Barket came through with a clutch, RBI-double to right central to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
Rookie reliever B.J. Rodrigue - a native of Destrehan and graduate of Brother Martin High - came on for Bird in the eighth, and after pitching a three-up, three-down frame, was greeted rudely by Owings to start the ninth as the preseason All-American turned on a 3-2 offering and sent it high over the wall in left center to give Tulane a four-run lead. With one away, Dini walked and senior second baseman Joe Holland doubled to put runners at second and third, Barket followed with a sacrifice fly, and Southard ripped an RBI-single to right central to account for the final score.
Sophomore right-hander Daniel Latham came on for Bogusevic to start the ninth, and after getting a pair of foul-ball outs, put an exclamation point on the win by striking out Billiken first baseman Scott Peden.
Tulane and Saint Louis close out the weekend on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on the radio on WRBH 88.3 FM.
