Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
MacMurray College
Baseball Beats MacMurray College 6-1 In Home Opener
03/05/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 5, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - Southern Illinois University (5-2) scored two runs without a hit in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie on its way to a 6-1 win over Division III MacMurray (Ill.) College (0-1) in the 2002 home opener.
"I thought we pitched very well and played good defense until the ninth inning. I was a little disappointed with the way we swung the bats early but we made some adjustments late in the game. We figured out a way to score some runs and it was a struggle to score early but a win is a win," said Dan Callahan, Saluki head coach.
"Once we scored we got on a little roll. Our guys didn't take MacMurray lightly, we didn't know a lot about them. Early on our bats were executed poorly and we were impatient so we struggled. But when you get good pitching and defense you can stay in the game until you get going offensively."
With no score in the fifth inning, MacMurray Jeff O'Neill walked P.J. Finigan and Ross Kowzan, Cory Newman sacrificed, Finigan scored on a wild pitch and Kowzan scored on an error by the shortstop on a Jeff Stanek ground ball that made it 2-0 Salukis.
In the sixth inning, SIU's Sal Frisella layed down a bunt single and stole second before Justin Maurath, playing in his first game of the year, doubled in Frisella. After a Finigan single, Kowzan singled in Maurath and MacMurray sent Kris Holden in for O'Neill.
Newman popped out and Luke Nelson hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield scoring Finigan. Toby Barnett singled to drive in Kowzan and SIU led 6-0.
Ryan Welch (1-0) pitched his first three innings as a Saluki to earn his first college win. Welch allowed one hit, one walk and struck out one. Five Salukis (Jake Alley, Welch, Eric Haberer, Jim Vogel and Andrew Weber) combined to throw a five-hit, one-run game.
MacMurray's O'Neill (0-1) allowed the two runs in the fifth to suffer the loss.
Kowzan (2-for-2, 2 runs, RBI), Finigan (1-for-2, 2 runs) and Maurath (1-for-3, RBI, run) led the late Saluki attack.
SIU travels to Martin, Tennessee on Wednesday to take on Tennessee-Martin at 2 p.m.
