Southern Illinois University
Bradley
Baseball Beats Bradley 10-2 In MVC Opener
03/22/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 22, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - Jake Alley (4-0) pitched seven strong innings and Southern Illinois University (12-4, 1-0 MVC) hit three home runs to beat Bradley University (4-8, 0-1 MVC) 10-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams on Friday at Abe Martin Field.
"It's a nice, positive start to the MVC season but we have a ways to go. I was worried about not playing for a while and it took us some time to get going and Jake Alley kept us in the game. Jake competes and I like that. He did a good job pitching out of trouble today," said Dan Callahan, Saluki head coach.
"We pitched well, played good defense and hit the ball well once we got going in the middle innings."
SIU jumped out to a 7-0 lead after five innings. Cory Newman started the Salukis with his first home run of the year in the third inning with two outs for a 1-0 lead.
The dawgs added three runs in the fourth inning when Toby Barnett led off with his second home run, P.J. Finigan singled in Sal Frisella and Luke Nelson doubled in Finigan.
In the fifth inning, Frisella hit a three-run home run, his fifth of the year, to give SIU a 7-0 lead.
"Frisella swung the bat well today and he had some big hits for us with his five RBI's. Newman got us going with his first home run and that's what you need a leadoff guy to do," added Callahan.
Bradley scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 7-2, but SIU responded with three more runs in the seventh inning to put the game away. Frisella doubled to drive in two more runs and Finigan added another RBI single for the final 10-2 margin.
Alley allowed just five hits, struck out six and walked two in seven innings to stay unbeaten.
Bradley starter Brian Spielman (0-2) suffered the loss for the Braves allowing seven runs in five innings.
Barnett (4-for-5, RBI, 3 runs), Frisella (2-for-3, 5 RBI, 3 runs), Finigan (2-for-4, 2 RBI, run) and Andrews (2-for-4, 2 runs) powered the 13-hit Saluki attack.
The Salukis will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. and a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the final three games against the Braves.
Jerel Deitering (4-0) and Ryan Welch (1-1) are slated to start for SIU in the doubleheader.
