Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Centenary College
Baseball Comes Back to Beat Centenary, Wins Series 2-1
02/16/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2003
Shreveport, La. - After trailing by a pair of runs after three and a half innings, Southern Illinois (2-1) used a six-run fifth powered by a Ross Kowzan grand slam to post a 12-9 come-from-behind win over Centenary College (4-5) earlier today at Shehee Stadium.
With the win, the Salukis improved to 3-1 all-time against the Gents.
Centenary took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first which saw Kyle Heaverlo walk to lead off the frame. Patrick Beale then lined out to first, but first baseman Josh Markle committed an error following the out, and Heaverlo advanced to third. Jon Marshall followed with an unassisted grounder to third to score Heaverlo, unearned.
The Gents took advantage of another Saluki error in the top of the second. With one away after Tony Cardone flied out to center, Alex Valdivia reached on an error by third baseman Nathan Boldt. Following a J.W. Pate pop up to catcher Toby Barnett, Valdivia was singled home by Patrick Jolley to give Centenary a 2-0 advantage.
A third error, this time by shortstop P.J. Finigan, enabled Centenary to add two more runs in the top of the third. A Marshall sacrifice fly accounted for one of the runs, while Justin Darr reached on Finigan's miscue which allowed Beale to come home.
Trailing 4-2 after three and a half innings, SIU stormed back with a six-run, four-hit rally in the top of the fifth. Finigan led off the frame with a single to left center. Sal Frisella reached on a fielder's choice and Finigan was out on the force at second. Frisella then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Following a Barnett walk which loaded the bases, Greg Andrews singled to center to drive in Frisella.
With one away, Boldt singled to right center moving Andrews to second and Barnett to third. Gents pitcher J.C. Biagi was then replaced by Kevin Willborn.
Moments after the pitching change, Markle reached on a fielder's choice, but Barnett was able to score on the play. With Markle on first, Boldt on second and Andrews on third, Tyler Schooley was called to pinch hit for Nick Baughman. Schooley, however, would strikeout swinging for the second out of the inning.
With two away, Kowzan stepped in and smashed a clutch grand slam to clear the bases and win back a 8-4 lead for the Dawgs.
Although Centenary would pull to within three runs (8-5) in the bottom of the fifth, SIU countered with a three-run attack in the bottom of the seventh.
Following another Centenary pitching change, consecutive singles by Andrews and Boldt immediately gave SIU runners at first and second with no one out. Markle then stepped in and delivered a single of his own to bring home Andrews.
Despite back-to-back strikeouts by Matt Brewer and Kowzan, the Dawgs' rally was kept alive by a bold double-steal which saw Markle take second and Boldt swipe third. Cory Newman then reached on an error by shortstop Cardone, allowing Markle to advance to third and Boldt to score, unearned.
Following the error, SIU capped off the inning with another shocking double-steal. This time, Newman took second and Markle stole home to give the Dawgs a 11-5 lead.
The Gents kept battling despite the Saluki stunner and calmed the storm with a couple more runs during their at-bat in the seventh.
Hoffman led things off with a bunt-single and was quickly moved to third on a double by Heaverlo. Beale then RBI-singled to right. Heaverlo, who tried to go to third on the play, was run down by Finigan after Frisella fired the ball home from right field and Barnett tossed to short.
With one away, Marshall doubled to left center to score Beale, and just like that, the Saluki lead was sliced to four (11-7).
In the top of the ninth, SIU scored one final run, before having to fight off one final two-run surge by the Gents. Freshman Tyler Norrick got Heaverlo to groundout and Marshall to pop up to second.
After a two-RBI single by Cardone, Norrick caught Bryan Scanlon looking on strikes for the game's final out, as SIU held on for the 12-9 thriller.
Kowzan went 1-for-3 with a grand slam, two runs scored and five RBI to help pace the Salukis. Andrews and Markle also went 3-for-5 with three runs scored apiece to spearhead the charge. Markle also had three RBI and two stolen bases.
Josh Joiner (1-0) posted his first win of the season on the mound. In five innings, Joiner struck out one batter on a four-hitter. Adam Snyder then relieved Joiner in the bottom of the sixth. Snyder pitched three innings before Norrick entered to throw in the ninth.
There were a total of 26 hits in the game and SIU held a 15-11 advantage in that category.
SIU will return to action on Feb. 21-23 when it travels to Tampa, Fla., for a three-game series at the University of South Florida. First pitch on Friday, Feb. 21 is scheduled for 6 p.m., CST.
