Southern Illinois University
Evansville
Baseball Splits with Evansville
04/26/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 26, 2003
Evansville, Ind. - After being one-hit in the first game, Southern Illinois (22-18, 13-8) erupted for a season-high 20 hits to salvage a split with Evansville (20-23, 9-13) earlier today in a doubleheader at Braun Stadium. SIU opened the day with a 2-0 loss, but bounced back with a 20-6 bashing of the Aces.
SIU's 20 runs and 20 hits each marked season-highs. Additionally, the 20 runs were the most scored in a single game since the Dawgs posted 26 against Murray State in 2000.
The Salukis fell behind 2-1 early on, but tied the game on a solo home run by Ross Kowzan in the top of the third. And from then on, the SIU offense exploded.
Following Kowzan's smash, SIU scored four runs in the fourth and six in each of the fifth and ninth frames to wipe out the Aces.
Greg Andrews led off the fourth with a double down the left field line and scored on a Nathan Boldt single. Josh Markle reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a double by designated hitter Tyler Schooley. Nathan Emrick and Kowzan then singled home one run apiece to give SIU a 6-3 lead.
SIU added more fuel to the fire in the fifth which saw Toby Barnett smoke a leadoff double down the left field line. Andrews followed the rip with a bunt single, before Boldt reached courtesy of a Wes Davis error. With one away after a Markle SAC-bunt, Schooley came up big again, with his second double of the day that plated Boldt and Andrews. P.J. Finigan (triple), Kowzan and Barnett added a few more RBI-hits to push the Dawgs' lead to 12-3.
The Salukis would hold a 14-5 advantage, before using another six-run ambush to bury the Aces once and for all.
Matt Brewer led off the ninth with a pinch-hit walk and went to second on a Nick Baughman pinch-hit single. A two-RBI double by Sal Frisella followed and Brendan Lutz hit safely to advance him to third. Andrews then singled home Frisella, before Emrick took a hit by pitch for a RBI. Brewer served up one final two-RBI double down the left field line to wrap up the 20-6 blowout.
Bryan Rueger (5-1) won the decision on the mound for SIU. The native of Mt. Vernon, Ind., struck out six batters, while scattering eight hits and allowing five runs.
Mitch Prout (4-4) suffered the loss for UE. Prout, who was one of four pitchers to throw in the nightcap, gave up 10 hits and 10 runs in just 4.1 innings.
Offensively, the Dawgs had several stars, particularly Kowzan, Barnett and Andrews who posted three hits apiece. Kowzan went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI, while Barnett went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Andrews finished 3-for-6 with a double, three runs scored and a RBI. Schooley also had a big day going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and three RBI.
In game one, junior left-hander Michael Greenhouse threw a no-hitter through seven innings before Emrick singled to break up the bid in the top of the eighth.
The only two runs of the game came in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a RBI-single by Kyle Smith and a RBI-walk by Erik Lis.
Greenhouse moved to 2-5 on the year, as he went the distance with five strikeouts.
Jake Alley (5-2), who suffered his first loss in conference play this season, also had a great day on the mound. Alley went 8.0 innings in which he gave up five hits and struck out a season-high 10 batters.
SIU and UE will wrap up their series with a noon doubleheader Sunday. The twin bill will open with a seven-inning game before concluding with a nine-inning contest.
