Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Outstanding in Sweep of Central Michigan
03/16/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 16, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. -
March 15, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. - Freshman Nathan Emrick went a spectacular 7-for-11 (.636) with three doubles, a triple, four runs scored and six RBI to help lead Southern Illinois (8-7) to a sweep over Central Michigan (2-7) earlier today in a doubleheader at Abe Martin Field. The Salukis won by scores of 12-4 and 6-1.
Emrick, who was hitting just .160 prior to today, boosted his batting average by 146 points. The native of Griggsville, Ill., now holds a .306 clip.
SIU's offense was nothing short of phenomenal as it registered a total of 30 hits, including a season-high 16 in game one. The Salukis also belted seven extra-base hits.
Everything seemed to be clicking on all cylinders for SIU who turned in its best offensive and pitching performance of the season.
To complement the hitting, right-hander Andrew Weber (1-0) and lefty Adam Snyder pitched a combined two-hit gem in the nightcap.
Weber pitched a sparkling no-hitter with three strikeouts in five innings to pick up his first win on the hill. He also recorded 10 fly ball outs in the effort which fell just five outs shy of a combined no-hitter.
Meanwhile, Snyder threw four innings, allowing two hits and one run. Snyder, who also struck out three batters, saw his scoreless inning streak come to an end at five frames.
SIU, who has shown early this season that its offense can strike at any time, proved that to be true again today, as five Salukis posted two or more hits to fuel a lethal offensive attack in game one.
After overcoming a one-run deficit (3-2), SIU used a pair of runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. Emrick smashed an RBI-triple to go along with a P.J. Finigan double in the fourth, before a RBI-single by Carl Heuer followed in the fifth to account for the runs.
The SIU bats kept sizzling in the seventh and eighth innings, which saw the Salukis score a total of seven runs on five hits between the two frames.
After Greg Andrews scored on a wild pitch with two out in the seventh, Emrick delivered a two-RBI single to center. Josh Markle then joined in on the hit parade with a two-RBI double that followed a pinch-hit RBI single by Tyler Schooley in the eighth. Markle scored shortly after on a Ross Kowzan single to ice the 12-4 win.
Freshman Tyler Norrick (1-0) struck out three batters en route to his first collegiate win on the mound. A native of Festus, Mo., Norrick also allowed six hits and three runs. Marshall Tucker relieved Norrick to pitch the final 3.2 innings in which he struck out five batters on a four-hitter. Tucker came out of the bullpen to earn his second save of the season.
In game two, SIU gave both Weber and Snyder plenty of run support, as it scored a pair of runs in each of its first three innings to take an early 6-0 lead.
Back-to-back doubles by Emrick and Finigan, and a sacrifice fly by Sal Frisella enabled the Dawgs to score a couple runs in the bottom of the first.
Emrick delivered a two-out, bunt-single which set up consecutive RBI-singles by Andrews and Frisella in the second. One inning later, he came up big again with a two-out, two-RBI double to cap off the six-run advantage.
With Snyder on the mound for the Salukis, Ryan Krueger laid down a perfect bunt-single in the top of the eighth to ruin the no-hit bid. Krueger's hit followed consecutive walks by Brian Campbell and Chase Welker. A sacrifice fly by David Latour then gave the Chippewas their only run in the 6-1 loss.
CMU threw a total of eight pitchers in the doubleheader, including starters Joey Fahndrich (0-1) and Ryan Cremeans (0-2) who suffered the losses.
Emrick began the day nearly hitting for the cycle, as he went 3-for-6 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and four RBI. He then followed with a near perfect 4-for-5 outing in the nightcap. Emrick also doubled in two of his first three at-bats in that game, and posted two more runs and two RBI.
Frisella, Finigan and Kowzan had big days at the plate as well. Each of the potent trio registered at least three hits, while joining forces for a total of six RBI and three runs scored.
SIU, who is now 6-1 when posting 10 or more hits in a game, will conclude its series with CMU tomorrow at noon.
