ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — The Saint Louis Billikens, off to a difficult start this season, found a breakthrough Wednesday with timely hitting and a collective pitching effort to defeat the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles 3-1 at Billiken Sports Center.

The win, secured in a game that transitioned from afternoon to evening, was just the first of the season for Saint Louis, which improved to 1-8. Southern Indiana, which entered with a 6-2 record after a series of high-scoring victories, fell to 6-3.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the seventh inning, breaking a 1-1 deadlock that had persisted since the fourth. Saint Louis’ Drew Kleinheide led off with a single to right field. After a sacrifice bunt by Kaden Bond advanced him to second, left fielder Hank Gomric delivered the go-ahead run with a double to right center, scoring Kleinheide. Ryan Iffrig followed immediately with a single to right, bringing Gomric home to provide a critical two-run cushion.

That offensive burst made a winner of reliever Levin East, who was charged with both seventh-inning runs. The loss went to Southern Indiana starter Ean DiPasquale, despite a strong outing. DiPasquale pitched three hitless innings, striking out four and walking none before exiting with a 1-0 lead.

Southern Indiana had struck first in the second inning. Carson Slack and Mason Wall hit back-to-back singles, and Collin Senior followed with a sacrifice bunt that scored Slack. The Screaming Eagles managed seven hits in the game but stranded multiple runners, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Saint Louis tied the game in the fourth without a hit. Reliever Ian Anderson walked the first two batters he faced, and a wild pitch advanced both. After a pitching change, another walk loaded the bases. Trey O’Neil recorded two strikeouts, but Kleinheide was then hit by a pitch, forcing in the tying run.

The Billikens’ four-hit attack was bolstered by a disciplined bullpen game. Starter Caden Earing went four innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits. Liam McKinney followed with three scoreless innings, yielding two hits. Max McGwire closed the final two innings, striking out three and working out of a jam in the eighth to earn the save.

Southern Indiana threatened in the eighth, putting runners on second and third with one out, but McGwire struck out Wall and then worked a scoreless ninth to seal the victory.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast an 8-1 Southern Indiana win. However, the service’s ELO rating system gave Saint Louis a 55% probability to win.

Saint Louis looks to build momentum as it opens a three-game home series against Bellarmine on Friday. Southern Indiana continues its road trip with a three-game series at North Alabama beginning Friday.