Feb 26th, 2007 05:22AM
by:

By CODY USHER
UCA ASSISTANT SID

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas baseball team plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Saint Louis 6-4 in a come-from-behind win at UCA Field on Friday afternoon. The Billikens (0-4) used four pitchers in the frame, which allowed two hits, a walk and three hit batters.

The Bears (3-3) drove in the first run of the eighth on a pinch hit single by junior Derrick Corso. Later in the inning, senior designated hitter Matt Warren was hit with the bases loaded by SLU reliever Eric Mueller, which gave UCA a 5-4 lead. B.J. Rodrigue came in and walked junior catcher Chris Davis which drove in Corso for the final score of the game.

UCA initially took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run single by junior first baseman Grant Gatlin, which scored Graham Martin and Kevin Rawls.

The Billikens tied the game in the top of the fourth on a RBI-single by first baseman Gilbert Marlowe and a sacrifice fly by Greg Rodgers.

The Bears pulled ahead 3-2 in the fifth when Davis drove in freshman center fielder Tye Throneberry with an infield ground ball.

SLU answered gained a 4-3 lead in the sixth after a run-scoring double by catcher Bill Musselman and RBI-single off the bat of Rodgers.

Rawls went 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot for the Bears. Gatlin recorded two of UCA's nine hits and recorded two runs batted in. Davis went 1-for-3 with a walk and a pair of RBI.

UCA starter Daniel Price threw 6 2/3 innings and gave up six hits, three earned runs, one walk and struck out a career-high eight batters. Freshman Bobby Pritchett (2-0) struck out two batters in 2 1/3 innings to pick up the win.

SLU hurler Dave Sever gave up six hits, two earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of work. Reliever Brock Hewitt (0-2) was responsible for the loss with two hits, two runs and a strikeout in two innings.

UCA and Saint Louis will play the second of a three-game set on Saturday at 1 p.m.