Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
South Florida
Baseball Loses to South Florida, 11-8
02/23/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2003
Tampa, Fla. - South Florida (6-2) registered a season-high 16 hits, including six doubles, two by Devin Ivany, to beat Southern Illinois (3-3), 11-8, earlier today in a wild one at Red McEwen Field. USF also had a triple and a three-run home run in its final game of the 2-1 series win.
SIU loaded the bases in two of its first three at-bats as both starting pitchers struggled early on.
USF freshman righty Chris Delaney, who made his first start of the season, gave up a P.J. Finigan single and back-to-back walks to Toby Barnett and Greg Andrews in the top of the first. The Dawgs, however, came up empty as Nathan Boldt grounded to third to silence the threat.
The Bulls immediately went to work on junior right-hander Josh Joiner during their turn in the first. Consecutive doubles by Mike Cunningham and Bryan Hierlmeier were followed by a Myron Leslie home run, and just like that, it was 3-0, USF.
USF added another quick run in the bottom of the second when leadoff hitter Travis Brown tripled and came home on a balk by Joiner.
Trailing by four, SIU used a two-out RBI-single by Boldt and a three-run blast by Carl Heuer to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the third. Heuer's round-tripper, which marked the first of his career, came after a walk and three straight singles.
Three Saluki errors, including two on one play, enabled the Bulls to regain a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the third. Leslie reached on an error by first baseman Heuer and went to third on a Jeff Baisley single. Baisley stole second on the ensuing play, but Barnett's throw sailed into the outfield where Ross Kowzan fielded the toss. A wild throw by Kowzan put Bailey on third, who would later score on a Ivany double. Ivany then came home on a Ronnie Handley fielder's choice.
SIU pulled to within one in the top of the fourth when a double by Sal Frisella scored Finigan who reached on a single. With two out and Frisella on third after an error by Leslie, Greg Andrews drove home Frisella on a single to deep short to cut the Bulls' lead to 7-6.
Although whenever SIU rallied, USF always seemed to have an answer. In the bottom of the fourth, another double, this time by Handley, scored both Ivany and Howell to push the Bulls' lead to 9-6.
Two more runs in the bottom of the sixth increased the Bulls' lead to 11-6 before a Heuer single scored Boldt and a double play plated Matt Brewer in the top of the seventh. The runs, however, weren't enough as USF held on for the 11-8 win.
Finigan went 3-for-5 with a run scored to lead the Salukis at the plate. Finigan's three hits added to SIU's total of 13 on the day. Barnett (2-for-4), Frisella (2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI), Andrews (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) and Heuer (2-for-4, 1 R, HR, 4 RBI) followed with two hits apiece. Additionally, Frisella and Barnett each doubled. Defensively, the Dawgs committed a season-high six errors.
Joiner (1-1) suffered the loss after lasting just 2.0 innings in which he gave up seven hits and six runs. Eric Haberer relieved Joiner in the third and allowed nine hits over the next three innings. Freshman Adam Snyder threw the final three frames, where he retired USF's last nine batters of the game. Snyder did not allow a hit or a run over that span and seven of his nine outs came on fly balls.
Paul Griffin (1-0) earned his first decision on the mound for the Bulls. Griffin threw a two-hitter over 2.2 innings. Offensively, Ivany went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a RBI and three runs scored to help pace USF. Howell also had a big day going 4-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI.
SIU left nine runners on base, including seven in its first four innings of the game. Meanwhile, USF scored in all but four innings, two of which consisted of three runs.
The Salukis will return to action at Murray State on Wednesday, Feb. 26. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., CST.
