Southern Illinois University
Missouri St.
Baseball Swept by SMS, 5-0, 8-3
04/19/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 19, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. - A five-hit complete game shutout by Brad Ziegler and a 15-hit burst helped lift Southwest Missouri State (22-15, 11-6) to a 5-0, 8-3 sweep of Southern Illinois (21-16, 12-6) earlier today in a doubleheader at Abe Martin Field.
The two-game blanking marked the first time SIU has been swept in a doubleheader this season, as SMS took a 2-1 series lead.
Ziegler, who struck out nine batters, didn't allow a Saluki hitter past first base until the bottom of the seventh when Greg Andrews reached on a double. The right-hander from Odessa, Mo., also one-hit the Dawgs through three straight innings to open the twin bill.
Holding a 1-0 lead after six, SIU starter Bryan Rueger issued three walks, including two intentional, in the top of the seventh, which saw SMS blow the game open with a four-run, three-hit surge.
Tim Rafferty led off the rally with a single to center and was replaced by pinch-runner Jacob Hilgendorf. With one away and Hilgendorf on second after Rick Wilson grounded out to second, Tony Piazza was given first base on an intentional walk. Adam Pummill followed up with a single to center and moved to second on an error by Sal Frisella. Frisella's miscue, which marked just his third this season, enabled Hilgendorf to score on the play, giving SMS a 2-0 advantage.
Another intentional walk, this time to Dant'e Brinkley loaded the bases. On the ensuing at-bat, Rueger gave up a RBI-bases on balls to Brooks Colvin which allowed Piazza to jog home.
Following Colvin's free ticket, Rueger was relieved by Eric Haberer who was immediately touched for a two-RBI single compliments of Greg Mathis. Mathis' hit, drove in Brinkley and Pummill to ice the 5-0 shutout.
With the win, Ziegler moved to a near-perfect 7-1 on the year. He also allowed five hits and gave up just one walk in his seven-inning gem.
While SMS pitching did its job in game one, it was the Bears' offense that took over in the nightcap.
A total of five Bears, including Brinkley (2), Colvin, Mathis (2), Wilson (3), Clay Wheeler (2) and Shaun Marcum (2) registered multiple-hits to fuel a ferocious attack, which saw SMS score three runs in each of the first and last innings of the game.
A two-RBI triple by Mathis and a RBI-single by Wheeler quickly gave SMS a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
Down 4-0 after three and a half, SIU pulled to within one in the bottom of the fourth.
Toby Barnett and Andrews singled consecutively to lead off the charge. Barnett went to third on Andrews' hit when Wilson bobbled the ball in left. With no outs and runners on the corners, Nathan Boldt hit a sacrifice fly to plate Barnett from third.
On the next play, pinch-hitter Carl Heuer was hit by a pitch. Nathan Emrick then singled to load the bases, and a wild pitch by Jeff Gray let Andrews score easily. A final RBI-ground ball out by Nick Baughman put one more run on the board, and the Dawgs were in business, trailing just 4-3.
Despite the threat, SMS answered with one run in the seventh and three in the ninth to put SIU away, but not without a fight from the Dawgs.
Following the Bears' at-bat in the ninth, an Emrick single and a couple errors juiced the bases for SIU. With one out and the tying run on deck, Marcum moved to the mound from his position at short. The preseason all-MVC shortstop Marcum, who also serves as the Bears' top closer, got Ross Kowzan to line into a double play to cap off the 8-3 win.
Gray won the decision on the hill and moved to 2-0 on the year. He scattered seven hits, allowed three runs and struck out seven in 7.0 innings of work. Marcum, who pitched the final two-thirds of the game, picked up his eighth save of the season.
Josh Joiner (4-3) suffered the loss for SIU. Joiner lasted four innings in which he struck out three batters, gave up eight hits and was touched for four runs.
Offensively, the Salukis were led by Barnett, Boldt and Emrick who each had three hits on the day.
SIU and SMS will wrap up their four-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Notes: SMS head coach Keith Guttin was ejected in the seventh inning of game two of today's doubleheader; The Bears scored 13 runs off 23 hits; SMS left a total of 15 runners on base, including 11 in game one, while SIU stranded 14 on the day; The Salukis turned three double plays this afternoon, which now add to an impressive season-total of 52.
