Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Rallies To Beat Tennessee-Martin 12-10
03/06/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 6, 2002
Martin, Tenn. - P.J. Finigan scored the tying run in the seventh inning and Southern Illinois University (6-2) scored two runs in the inning on one hit, two errors, a wild pitch and a passed ball to overcome a 10-9 deficit and beat Tennessee-Martin (2-6) by a 12-10 final on Wednesday at Skyhawk Field. The two teams combined for six lead changes and two ties in the three and a half hour game.
"We battled back offensively every time they took the lead and our pitching was strong the last three innings when we shut them down to get the win," said Dan Callahan, Saluki head coach.
"Finigan was strong today at the plate with four hits and on the mound with a save in his first college outing. He shut them down the last two innings to help us get the win."
Down 10-9 in the seventh inning, Finigan led off with a single and scored the tying run after a throwing error, a passed ball and a groundout by Luke Nelson. Another error and a passed ball allowed Cory Newman to score the winning run. SIU added an unearned run in the eighth for the final 12-10 score.
Trailing 2-0 , SIU tied the game in the top of the third with two runs on a Newman sacrifice fly and a Nelson RBI single. After the Skyhawks took the lead 3-2 with a single run in the bottom of the third inning, Greg Andrews and Sal Frisella hit first-pitch back-to-back home runs in the fourth to put SIU up 4-3.
UTM countered with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 5-4 but the Salukis exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 9-5 lead. Toby Barnett and Justin Maurath singled in runs, Ross Kowzan walked with the bases loaded to drive in a run and Newman singled in two runs to give SIU the biggest lead of the game.
The Skyhawks came right back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 9-9 and then scored a single run in the tenth to take their final lead at 10-9 before SIU rallied for the win.
Jason Westemeir (1-0) pitched one inning allowing two hits, a run and a walk to earn the win. Josh Joiner (7th) and P.J. Finigan pitched the final three innings of scoreless relief. Finigan struck out two and allowed one hit in the final two innings to earn a save in his first college pitching appearance.
UTM's Dustin Summers (0-1) gave up two runs (including the game-winner) and four hits to get the loss.
Finigan (4-for-4, 3 runs), Cory Newman (2-for-5, 3 RBI, run), Toby Barnett (2-for-5, run, RBI) and Greg Andrews (2-for-6, HR, 2 RBI) powered the 15-hit Saluki outing.
This weekend SIU host Eastern Michigan for a three-game series with single games on Friday (2 p.m.), Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.) at Abe Martin Field.
