Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Creighton
Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Creighton
03/30/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 30, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - Jeff Stanek's school-tying third home run in a game gave Southern Illinois University (14-7, 3-3 MVC) a 13-2 win due to the ten-run rule and a split in its Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader with Creighton University (9-10, 3-2 MVC) on Saturday at Abe Martin Field. SIU lost game one 5-3.
"It's big for us to win the second game and split today. We didn't want to be down 0-2 on Sunday. We came back and swung the bats well. Ryan Welch did a good job pitching out of jams early and gave us six strong innings and only allowed two runs. Eric Haberer, Bryan Rueger and Andrew Weber pitched well. All four of those freshman pitched well today and we didn't make an error in 18 innings," said Dan Callahan, Saluki head coach.
"You don't see displays like Stanek's very often. He saw the ball well today and just mashed the ball. Even his lone out was a warning track out. He's a good hitter and he's proving that this year. That was an awesome display at the plate today."
Stanek had a double, three home runs, six RBI and three runs scored to lead SIU to a much-needed 13-2 win in game two of the doubleheader. He is the first Saluki to hit three homers in a game since Kurt Reid in 1982 vs Miami (Oh.) and one of seven to accomplish the feat in school history.
"I just wanted to come out today and help the team as much as I can. I'm not a home run hitter, I don't try to hit home runs. Somedays you just have it and today was one of those days. I've never hit three in a game even in little league," said Stanek. "We needed to win that second game headed into tomorrow. It feels good to be in the record book and I've been here a while and hope to go out strong my last year at SIU."
In game two, Creighton took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. SIU responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs to tie the game on Stanek's first home run, a two run shot to right field.
The Salukis added two runs in the fourth inning behind RBI singles by Luke Nelson and P.J. Finigan. In the fifth, Sal Frisella's RBI double and Ross Kowzan's RBI single gave SIU a 6-2 lead.
Stanek led off the seventh inning with a solo shot, Toby Barnett followed with a solo shot and SIU scored two additional runs on an error and a passed ball for a 10-2 lead. In the eighth, Stanek crushed a three-run home run to right field to put SIU up 11 runs and end the game 13-2 due to the ten-run rule.
SIU's Ryan Welch (2-1) started and picked up the win. He pitched six innings and allowed two runs, four hits, four walks and struck out two.
CU's Steve Grasley (2-3) allowed six runs and 11 hits in four and a third innings to pick up the loss.
Stanek (4-for-5, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 runs, double) broke his career-highs for RBI and hits and tied his mark for runs. Frisella (2-for-4, double, 2 runs, RBI), Finigan (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Scott Hankey (2-for-4, run), Barnett (2-for-4, HR, 2 runs, RBI) and Cory Newman (2-for-5, run) led the 17-hit SIU attack.
In game one, SIU jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Barnett's RBI single in the first inning. After Creighton took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning, Finigan tied the game with his first college home run, a two-run shot to left field.
The Bluejays scored twice in the fifth inning off Saluki starter Jake Alley (4-1) to win 5-3 and give SIU's ace his first loss of the year. Alley allowed five runs, six hits, struck out eight and walked five.
Creighton's Tom Oldham (3-1) went the distance, allowing nine hits, three runs and no walks while striking out six.
Stanek (3-for-4) and Finigan (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs) led SIU in game one at the plate.
SIU will wrap up the four-game series with an 11 a.m. doubleheader against Creighton on Sunday, March 31 at Abe Martin Field.
Josh Joiner (0-0, 4.50 era) and Luke Nelson (2-1, 3.72 era) are expected to start for the Salukis.
