Southern Illinois University
Wichita St.
Salukis Fall in MVC Opener to Wichita State, 9-4
03/16/2001 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 16, 2001
Shocker leftfielder Justin McCarty's 4-for-6 performance and five Saluki errors led to a 9-4 Wichita State (8-7, 1-0) win over Southern Illinois University Carbondale (6-10, 0-1 MVC) in the Missouri Valley Conference season opener for both teams at Abe Martin Field on Friday, March 16. The loss was the fourth straight for the Salukis.
"We have to be a better club than the way we played defensively today. You're not going to beat good teams like Wichita state when you make two or three errors and we made five errors," said Dan Callahan, Saluki head coach.
McCarty's hitting (two home runs, two doubles, four RBIs, three runs) helped Wichita State jump out to a 6-0 lead. Shocker starter Justin Maureau (2-1) shut out the Salukis though six innings, leaving with a 6-0 lead thanks to McCarty's team high sixth and seventh home runs.
"We just couldn't get the big hit when we had a chance against Maureau and we left some guys on base," stated Callahan. "McCarty hit the ball well today."
SIU battled back from the 6-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh, cutting the lead to 6-4 against Wichita State reliever Mike Dennison. After a Cory Newman double to lead off, Luke Nelson doubled in Newman. Sal Frisella reached on a bunt single and then Scott Hankey singled in Nelson. Following a Jeff Stanek strikeout, Dane Kerley walked to load the bases. Jason Rainey was hit by a pitch, driving in Frisella. After a line out by Roman Schooley, Ryan Murray singled to score Hankey. The Salukis had a chance to tie or take the lead, but Newman popped out with the bases loaded to the end the inning.
"I admire our guys for hanging in there. Maureau had pitched six shutout innings. We were down 6-0 and I thought we did a great job in the seventh to come back and bunch some hits together and get back in the ballgame. We had the tying run at second base when we popped up to end the inning," added Callahan. "We did a good job to get back in the game, but unfortunately we didn't play well enough defensively to stay in the game."
Josh Latimer (1-2) pitched five innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits and walked two to suffer the loss. Jason Westemeir (three and one third innings, three earned runs, three hits) and Scott Lucht (two thirds of an inning, one strikeout, one hit) finished the game for SIU.
Hankey (3-for-4, run scored, RBI) and Newman (2-for-4, double, run scored) led the Saluki hitters. Hankey missed two of three games against Louisville last weekend due to a bad knee.
"It was nice to have Hankey in the line up, we need him in the lineup. He's our top catcher and to see him get three hits was a plus. Newman has also responded well in the leadoff spot," said Callahan.
Wichita?s Maureau earned the win and reliever Dustin Atkins (two and two thirds innings, two hits, walk) picked up the save.
The Salukis continue the four game series against Wichita State with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, March 17, at Abe Martin Field. SIU will wrap up the series with a single game on Sunday, March 18, at 1 p.m.
