Southern Illinois University
Evansville
Evansville Completes Four-Game Sweep Over Salukis
04/29/2001 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 29, 2001
Evansville, Ind.--Despite a comeback, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (16-31, 9-19 MVC) lost the series finale to the University of Evansville (27-15, 13-7) 9-8 on Sunday at Carson Center Field. The loss gave the Purple Aces a four game sweep of SIU over the weekend.
"We got swept this weekend and sweeps in this conference are hard to come by no matter who you're playing. It's tough, we lose a two run game and two one run games including one in extra innings," said Dan Callahan, Saluki head coach.
"Too many things have to happen to get us in the tournament. We have to rely on somebody else to help us instead of having some control ourselves. I thought we needed to get out of Evansville with a split and win three of four at Bradley or better to have a shot."
The Salukis fell behind 5-0 early but battled back on offense and had chances to tie the game or take the lead against the Aces.
"We did a good job on offense, we didn't panic when we got down 5-0 and Sal Frisella got hot at the right time to get us back in the game. It was just too little too late," added Callahan. "Once again we didn't pitch well early and we're facing a 5-0 deficit after three innings and it's hard to come back. We did a good job to get back in the game then we gave up a two run homer in the fifth and that hurt after we had cut the lead to 5-3. Now we're behind 7-3. We came back and were within one swing of the bat to tie or take the lead."
Down 5-0 after three innings, SIU scored three runs in the fourth inning when Justin Maurath hit the fourth straight single of the inning to drive in two runs. Ryan Murray's sacrifice fly two batters later scored the third run and cut the lead to 5-3.
A two-run home run by Evansville in the fifth inning and a single run in the sixth inning gave the Aces an 8-3 lead, but SIU battled back with four runs in the seventh on a Jeff Stanek ground ball that scored a run and Sal Frisella's three-run home run to cut the lead to 8-7.
Evansville added a solo run in the seventh to go up 9-7. In the ninth, Frisella hit a solo home run to cut the lead to 9-8, but the Salukis followed with two ground ball outs to end the game.
Starter Bill Clayton (2-5) lasted only two innings and allowed the five runs to open the game.
Evansville relievers Zach Brinson (1-0) and Brian Wegman collected their first win and save of the year respectively.
SIU was led by the hot bat of Frisella, who went 3-for-5 with two home runs, four-RBIs, and three runs scored. He hit .529 against Evansville (9-for-17, six-RBIs, two home runs, five runs scored, two doubles).
"You don't hit two home runs everyday and that's not what excites me about Sal. He's gotten progressively better the last few weeks, worked hard to get better and hopefully he'll finish the season strong," stated Callahan.
In addition to Frisella, Roman Schooley (3-for-5, run), Luke Nelson (2-for-5, run), Justin Maurath (2-for-5, two-RBIs) and Greg Andrews (2-for-5, run) had strong days at the plate for SIU.
The Salukis travel to Champaign to face the University of Illinois on Wednesday, May 2 in a game scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Prior to the game, the March 28 contest in Carbondale that was suspended after eight innings due to darkness, will be completed.
