ST. LOUIS – SIUE baseball collected double digit hits for the fourth consecutive game Tuesday, but fell to Saint Louis 7-5 in nonconference action at the Billiken Sports Complex.

"We swung the bats well tonight," SIUE Interim Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said. "And our defense was solid tonight."

SIUE (8-19) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against SLU starter Joe Powell. Devin Caldwell drove in Travis Becherer with a sacrifice fly to center.

SLU (23-10) answered with a four runs on four hits in its own half of the first inning, which proved to be the difference in the contest. SLU second baseman Mike Levine drove home two runs with a double off Cougar starter Sam Hopkins.

 "The first inning decided the game," Stoecklin said. "Sam just wasn't very competitive tonight."

Hopkins (1-3) claimed the loss for the Cougars. The freshman lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Becherer picked up an RBI of his own in the second inning with a single that cut the lead to 4-2. The Billikens scored single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth to extend their lead to 7-2.

James Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly and Joel Greatting doubled in a two-run SIUE sixth inning, which cut the SLU lead to 7-4.

"Joel had a nice game. He had a big hit to drive in a run," Stoecklin said. "James (Vazquez) continues to take good at-bats. He looked solid at the plate."

The Cougars added a run in the eighth inning thanks to the RBI of the game from Becherer. SIUE left runners on second and third when the inning ended. The Cougars stranded 12 for the game.

Becherer led the Cougars at the plate. The senior was 4 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Greatting was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Vazquez and Caldwell added RBIs. Drew Johnson and Jacob Stewart each added two hits for the Cougars, who had 11 as a team.

Freshman reliever J.D. Williams tossed three scoreless innings for SIUE. He allowed a single hit and he struck out five. The Billikens loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth before Williams picked up a strikeout and a fly out to end the inning.

"J.D. did a nice job tonight," Stoecklin added. "He threw some quality pitches."

Saint Louis also finished with 11 hits. Alex Kelly paced the Billiken offense. He was 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Braxton Martinez was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Powell (3-0) earned the win for Saint Louis despite pitching just four innings. He allowed two runs on six hits. Since his outing was pre-determined he was awarded the win despite not pitching the minimum five innings needed to qualify.

The Cougars travel to Nashville, Tenn., for a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Belmont Fri.-Sun.