Tritons Score Four In Seventh, Down Pirates 8-5

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Missouri-St. Louis plated four runs in the top of the seventh inning, erasing a one-run deficit to notch an 8-5 victory over host Armstrong Atlantic in the first game of the 2010 Savannah Invitational on Friday afternoon at Pirate Field.

The Tritons evened their record to 2-2 on the young season with the win, while halting a five-game win streak by the Pirates (8-3). 

The Pirates used the long ball to take an early 2-1 lead as sophomore John Roberts delivered a solo home run to left field in the second inning, then redshirt freshman Chris Zittrouer connected on his first collegiate home run, a solo shot, in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Missouri-St. Louis took its first lead of the game in the top of the fifth, plating three runs against AASU starter Bryan Roby. A sacrifice fly by Kurt Driemeyer scored one, then an RBI single by Andrew Keating and a bases-loaded walk to Zach Hulbert put the Tritons up, 4-2.

AASU got one run back in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI groundout by Michael Price, then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth by loading the bases with nobody out against Triton starter Andrew Peterson. Cameron Scott delivered an RBI single and Justin Harris drove in a run with a groundout to short, putting AASU up, 6-5, but Drew Walker lined into a 6-5 double play to end the inning.

The Tritons then took the lead for good in the top of the seventh, sending nine men to the plate in a four-run frame. Driemeyer homered to left field to tie things up at 6-6, then Matt Horton and Erik Walk delivered RBI singles to make the score 7-5. A fielder's choice RBI off the bat of Kenny Bechaud capped the scoring in the inning.

Walk (1-0), who relieved Peterson in the sixth inning, then made the three-run lead stand up for the Tritons, hurling four innings of four-hit shutout ball, walking one and striking out three to notch the victory for Missouri-St. Louis. 

Chris Base (1-1) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up three hits and three runs in 1/3 inning of work in the sixth. 

Roberts had three hits including the home run to lead the Pirates at the plate, while Scott and Jake Sutton each contributed two hits apiece. Alex Wyche singled in the sixth to extend his season-long hitting streak to 11 games, while Michael Price saw his hitting streak stop at 10 with an 0-for-5 day.

Walk had three hits as well at the plate to pace the Tritons. Hulbert went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs driven in and Keating added a pair of hits as well.

Missouri-St. Louis will take on Queens (NY) in 2010 Savannah Invitational action on Saturday in an 11 a.m. doubleheader at Pirate Field. AASU and Missouri-St. Louis will then play a single game at 11 a.m. on Sunday in the Pirates' next action.