Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Missouri St.
Baseball Beats SMS 10-5 In Finale
04/14/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 14, 2002
Ozark, Mo. - Southern Illinois University (18-14, 7-9 MVC) scored five runs in its final two at bats to break away from a 5-5 tie and beat first place Southwest Missouri State University (24-6, 10-2 MVC) in the series finale on Sunday at Price Cutter Park. The win snapped a four-game losing streak.
"I'm glad we found a way to win the last game. I admire our guys for not giving up. Our hitters kept pounding away and we had our best two innings against their top starter on Friday and the best closer in the MVC today," said Dan Callahan, Saluki head coach.
With the game tied at 5-5 after six innings, SMS brought in closer Bob Zimmerman, one of the top closers in the nation. The Salukis scored three runs in the eighth on three hits and three errors, led by Ross Kowzan's leadoff double against Zimmerman. Kowzan, Justin Maurath, who reached on an error, and Cory Newman scored to give SIU an 8-5 lead. Newman reached on a single that extended his hitting streak to 19 games.
In the eighth inning the Salukis added two more runs in support of starter Luke Nelson. Sal Frisella was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Kowzan and Maurath each added RBI doubles to make it 10-5 SIU.
SIU's Luke Nelson (3-3) had a career-high 11 strikeouts with two walks and seven hits allowed. He gave up five runs to pick up the win.
Zimmerman (2-2), the SMS closer, allowed five runs on five hits in two innings to suffer the loss.
Jeff Stanek (4-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Maurath (3-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Kowzan (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Barnett (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and Newman (2-for-6, 2 runs, RBI) led the Saluki attack.
The Salukis will host Southeast Missouri State University at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at Abe Martin Field.
