Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Loses 7-6 To Indiana State In Series Opener
05/10/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
May 10, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - Indiana State University (25-20, 13-11 MVC) broke a 5-5 tie with two runs in the seventh inning and held on to beat Southern Illinois University (27-19, 12-13 MVC) 7-6 on Friday at Abe Martin Field.
The game between the fourth (ISU) and fifth place (SIU) teams was the first in a crucial four-game Missouri Valley Conference series between teams looking to secure an MVC Tournament birth.
"I thought we swung the bats well enough to stay in the game and win it. We had 12 hits but Jake Alley just didn't have his command today," said Dan Callahan, Saluki head coach.
"We allowed them to score four runs with two outs which is a lack of execution and concentration on our part. We wanted to set the tone for the weekend in game one, but we made errors and didn't pitch well enough early in the game. We didn't deserve to win and we have to get better if we don't want to be sitting at home for the tournament."
Indiana State scored single runs in the first three innings off SIU starter Jake Alley before the Salukis tallied three runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game 3-3. Jeff Stanek walked with the bases loaded to drive in SIU's first run, Toby Barnett followed with a sacrifice fly and P.J. Finigan doubled in a run to even the score.
SIU took a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning on Cory Newman's solo blast to leftfield, his second of the year, which ties a career-high. ISU added two runs in the top of the fifth with two outs on a single, an error and three straight walks to take a 5-4 lead and chase Alley. The final walk was allowed by freshman reliever Andrew Weber (0-5) before he picked up the final out in the inning on a pop fly with the bases loaded to limit the Sycamore damage.
Sal Frisella tied the game at 5-5 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning and the game stayed tied until the seventh inning. In the seventh, ISU scored twice off Weber on three soft singles including a bunt, a sacrifice and a sacrifice fly to take a 7-5 lead. The sacrifice fly by Tommy Jeffers brought in the winning run.
SIU scored a run on three singles and an error in the eighth inning, but Barnett's single drove in the last run and was the final Saluki hit, leaving the score 7-6. In the ninth, SIU grounded to first unassisted on a bunt and struck out twice to end the game.
Weber pitched three and two third innings allowing two runs and six hits to suffer the loss. ISU's Matt Samuels (4-2) pitched six and two third innings and allowed all five SIU runs and nine hits to pick up the win.
Newman (3-for-5, RBI, 3 runs), Maurath (2-for-5, run), Finigan (2-for-5, RBI) and Barnett (1-for-4, 2 RBI) led SIU at the plate.
Southern Illinois will continue the series with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and finish up with a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Saturday the baseball seniors will also be honored between games and two of the SIU baseball team awards will be announced. SIU will have its final Saluki t-shirt day as well. The first 150 fans will be given a ticket to redeem a free t-shirt following the first game of the doubleheader against Indiana State.
