Baseball Drops Series Opener To Illinois State 5-3
04/07/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 5, 2002
Normal, Ill. - Southern Illinois University (15-10, 4-5 MVC) continued its struggle in Missouri Valley Conference play with a 5-3 loss to Illinois State University (7-17, 3-5 MVC) in the series opener between the two teams on Friday at Redbird Field.
SIU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning but couldn't hold on for the win. Greg Andrews led off with his fourth home run of the year and P.J. Finigan and Jeff Stanek each added RBI singles off Redbird starter Mike Quinlan (2-2) in a three-run, four-hit inning.
Illinois State battled back with a single run in the fourth inning and three runs in the fifth inning off SIU ace Jake Alley before adding a single run in the seventh off Saluki reliever Andrew Weber.
Quinlan shut out the Salukis after the third inning, throwing 146 pitches in 8 2/3 innings before being pulled for the last out. He walked one, struck out no one and scattered nine hits to pick up the win. Shortstop Jeremy Accardo came in and struck out Ross Kowzan, the leading hitter in the Valley, with two batters on and two outs to pick up his fourth save and secure the win.
Alley (4-2) struggled on Friday walking five Redbirds. He struck out four and allowed four runs and seven hits in his second straight loss after four straight wins to open the season.
Finigan (2-for-4, RBI, run), Andrews (1-for-3, HR, RBI, run) and Sal Frisella (1-for-3) led the Salukis.
SIU continues the series against Illinois State with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.