After going 2-2 their first four games of the 2005 baseball season, the Oakville Senior High Tigers seem to be in full stride.

“We’ve won our last four games in a row,” Oakville head coach Rich Sturm told the Call.

“Our pitching and defense has been outstanding at this point of the season,” he added. “It also appears that our hitting is beginning to turn around.”

The Tigers (6-2, 2-1 Suburban West) handed conference rival Lindbergh High an 8-5 loss as Tiger starting pitcher Matt Pressler threw a solid 4 1/3 innings with four earned runs on four hits.

The junior starting pitcher retired four via strikeout in his first win of the season but had some command problems and allowed a grand slam.

“It actually was an up and down day for Matt,” Sturm said. “His control was not at its sharpest. They hit a grad slam in the third and he came back and played shutout ball.”

Sophomore Brian Randolph made a strong relief appearance, pitching 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball while striking out one.

The save was Randolph’s second of the 2005 season.

“Brian had just enough gas in the tank to throw those 2 2/3 innings and hold the fort down,” Sturm said. “When we brought him in this week, he’s thrown shutout ball.”

Oakville’s Adam Boyer scorched a three-run triple in the fourth inning that ended up being the game-winner. The Tigers added two more insurance runs in the sixth to clinch the 8-5 victory.

Boyer is batting .286 with three runs batted in.

“Adam hit a line drive to right field with two outs and the bases loaded,” Sturm said. “Fortunately the right fielder didn’t get a good read on the ball and it got to the fence.”

Another Oakville Tiger with a strong hitting performance was designated hitter Chris Kaestner, who went 2-2 overall with two runs batted in and one walk. The junior DH is batting a stout .429 with two runs batted in.

“Chris’ first start of the season wasn’t until this past Wednesday,” Sturm said. “He possesses great bat speed and he can hit the ball a long way.”

The Tigers take on the Statesmen of Webster Groves at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Heine Meine Field in the Consolation Championship game of the Mehlville-Lindbergh Tournament.

“Obviously their (Webster Groves) program has turned the corner these last few years,” Sturm said.

“They can hit the ball with the best of them so they do pose some concerns for us,” he said. “We’re really going to need to keep the top part of their order at bay.”