NEW YORK (Interstat) — Liam McKinney pitched four and two-thirds shutout innings of relief to lead the Saint Louis Billikens to a 7-2 victory over the Fordham Rams on Friday in the first game of an Atlantic 10 doubleheader at Jim Houlihan Park at Jack Coffey Field.

McKinney, who entered with the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowed no hits, struck out two and did not allow a run. He combined with starter Loren Georger, who gave up two earned runs on no hits over four and one-third innings while striking out five, to hold Fordham to eight hits. The Billikens improved to 19-31, while the Rams fell to 23-28.

Saint Louis scored first in the top of the first inning. Andrew Kleinheider singled, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, and came home on a single by Hank Gomric. The Billikens added a run in the fifth when Matt Deutsch walked, advanced on a bunt single by J.T. Crabbe and scored on Kleinheider’s single to right field.

Fordham tied the game in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Taylor Kirk, then pulled even again in the fifth on a solo home run by Andrew Kapica. The Rams had a chance to take the lead after Kapica’s homer, but McKinney entered and immediately picked off pinch-runner Ford T. on first base. He then walked Young Caden but picked him off, ending the threat.

Saint Louis regained the lead in the seventh when Crabbe homered to left field. The Billikens broke the game open in the eighth with four runs. After a walk to K. Bond and a single by R. Iffrig, Gomric doubled to left center, scoring Bond. Connor Beattie singled to left, driving in Iffrig, and Deutsch capped the inning with a two-run single to center that scored Beattie and Gomric.

Fordham starter Chase Hanawalt took a hard-luck loss, pitching seven innings and allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out nine. Tommy McAndrews went 3 for 4 with a home run and an RBI for the Rams. Kirk finished 2 for 5 with an RBI, and Kapica added a solo homer in his one inning on the mound before moving to designated hitter.

For Saint Louis, Kleinheider collected three hits and an RBI. Gomric had two hits and two RBIs, Deutsch drove in two runs, and Crabbe homered and singled. The Billikens’ pitching staff retired the final 13 Fordham batters after Kapica’s home run, with McKinney inducing weak contact and striking out the side in order in the sixth and seventh.

The most critical sequence came in the bottom of the fifth after the Rams had tied the game. McKinney’s quick entry and two pickoffs stifled Fordham’s momentum and kept the game tied. The Billikens then capitalized on Hanawalt’s exit in the eighth, sending nine batters to the plate and erasing any doubt.

Saint Louis and Fordham were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Friday. The Billikens return home to host Richmond in a three-game series beginning May 13, while the Rams host Hofstra on May 12 before traveling to Saint Bonaventure for a three-game set.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Fordham 6, Saint Louis 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave Saint Louis a 51.30 percent probability to win.