Southern Illinois University
Missouri St.
Baseball Shuts Out SMS Behind Alley's Complete Game
04/18/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 18, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. - Anna, Ill., native Jake Alley struck out a season-high eight batters in a nine-inning complete game masterpiece to lead Southern Illinois (21-14, 12-4) to a 5-0 shutout over Southwest Missouri State (20-15, 9-6) earlier today at Abe Martin Field. For SIU, the shutout marked its second ever over SMS, and first since 1998.
Alley (5-1) had another phenomenal outing for the Salukis on the mound, as he picked up his fourth straight win of the season. The right-hander, who threw his first complete nine-inning game of the year, also moved to a perfect 4-0 in league play.
Starters Alley and Chad Mulholland hooked up in a stellar pitcher's dual early on. Between the two, there were a total of 15 strikeouts over the first five innings of the game.
The only time where it appeared Alley was in serious trouble was in the top of the first when Dant'e Brinkley smacked a lead off double to left center. Brinkley, however, would remain on second as Alley retired the next three SMS hitters to get out of the inning.
With one out in the bottom of the third, Ross Kowzan delivered a single to right field and advanced to second on a walk by Sal Frisella. An error by preseason all-MVC shortstop Shaun Marcum advanced each runner before a sacrifice fly by Greg Andrews drove in the first run of the game to give SIU a 1-0 lead.
Marcum would hurt the Bears again in the bottom of the sixth, which saw Andrews rip a lead off single to right. A SAC-bunt by Nathan Boldt moved Andrews to second and a Josh Markle grounder to first advanced him to third.
With two outs, Tyler Schooley blooped a huge pinch-hit single into right to score Andrews. Nathan Emrick followed with a routine grounder to short, but Marcum misplayed the ball, and as a result, it trickled through his legs into the outfield. The error kept the inning going long enough for P.J. Finigan to hit a clutch RBI-single and extend the Salukis' lead to 3-0. Prior to his hit, Finigan had struck out in his first three at-bats of the game.
Mulholland, who was victimized by Marcum's two miscues, was relieved by Chris Krawczyk in the seventh.
With Krawczyk on the hill, SIU put the finishing touches on its win in the bottom of the eighth. Markle drew a lead off walk and moved to second on a SAC-bunt by Nick Baughman. Emrick followed with a single to left and a wild pitch by Krawczyk enabled him to take second and Markle to score. A Finigan double, which split the right field gap, drove home Emrick to end the 5-0 blanking.
Alley, who retired seven of SMS' last eight batters fanned Johnny Bench Award candidate Tony Piazza for the game's final out. Before the out, Alley had walked Piazza three straight times.
Alley allowed six hits and four walks to go along with his eight Ks in the remarkable complete game shutout.
Mulholland (5-2) suffered the loss after striking out eight batters, scattering seven hits and giving up three runs, two of which were unearned.
Finigan and Kowzan led the Dawgs with two hits apiece, followed by Frisella, Andrews, Boldt, Markle, Schooley and Emrick who each added one to wrap up the 10-hit outing. Finigan also had two RBI, while Frisella made a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab to rob Clay Wheeler of a extra-base hit in the top of the eighth.
SIU resumes its series against SMS tomorrow with a doubleheader at noon.
