Southern Illinois University
Wichita St.
Baseball Shocks Wichita State, 6-4
05/22/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
May 22, 2003
Wichita, Kan. - Senior outfielder Sal Frisella and junior designated hitter Tyler Schooley each hit three-run home runs in the top of the third inning to lead Southern Illinois (29-23) to a heart-throbbing 6-4 win over Wichita State (43-25) earlier today at Eck Stadium-Home of Tyler Field. The victory marked SIU's first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament win over WSU since 1986.
With the win, SIU advances to the third round of the MVC Baseball Championship, which was narrowed down to five teams, after Creighton was eliminated by Indiana State this morning.
"To me, Wichita State is the measuring stick for this Conference," said an elated head coach Dan Callahan. "In terms of the regular-season race, SMS and Wichita State have been the staples for this league. This is a huge win, and when you beat a team like Wichita State, you've done something."
WSU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a two-out, RBI-single by Shawn Smarsh.
Moments later, SIU exploded in the top of the third.
Freshman Matt Brewer led off with a single and advanced to second on a SAC-bunt by P.J. Finigan. Nathan Emrick followed the bunt with a single to left, before all runners came home on Frisella's smash, which barely cleared the left field wall. Frisella's homer marked his 10th of the season and 28th of his career, as he moved into a tie for second with Matt Dettman (1997-98) on SIU's all-time career home run list.
"In my situation - runners at first and third - I just wanted to drive the ball somewhere, said Frisella. "He (Kerbs) walked me the first time up, so I was looking for something to drive."
After Frisella's round-tripper, Toby Barnett kept the rally going with a double down the left field line. Greg Andrews then lined to right for the second out of the inning. With two away, Schooley sent his second home run of the season over the 375-feet sign in right center.
Ahead 6-1, Saluki starter Bryan Rueger shut down WSU for the next three innings, despite the fact the Shockers left five runners on base. Rueger, however, wouldn't have been able to do so without the help of second baseman Andrews and shortstop Finigan who turned one of three double plays on the day, two of which were huge momentum-builders.
In the fifth, the Shockers had runners on first and second with one out, but Andrews made a magnificent snag on a Mark Johnson grounder up the middle. Andrews' flip to Finigan sparked the first of the two twin killings.
After a two-run homer by Joe Muich narrowed SIU's lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth, it was Andrews who came up big again with another spectacular snag off the turf. Finigan converted his flip into another rally-ending double play.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh, SIU went to relief right-hander Marshall Tucker. With one out, Cody Clark reached on a two-base error by third baseman Nathan Boldt. A ground ball out by Logan Sorensen, which would have been the third out hadn't the error occurred, moved Clark to third. A pinch-hit base knock by Ryan Bell then scored Clark to cut the Salukis' lead to 6-4
After walking Nick McCoola, WSU had a decision to make in a crucial two-out situation. Either let Muich hit, who had walked twice and homered in his previous three at-bats, or go to left-handed pinch-hitter Bryan Erstad, who is .333 in pinch-hitting situations this season. To say the least, the Shockers went with Muich, who popped up to short.
On not pinch-hitting for Muich in the seventh with two on and two out, WSU head coach Gene Stephenson said, "Certainly, we thought about it, but they (SIU) had a left-hander ready if we hit (Bryan) Erstad in that situation. I really thought that if Joe (Muich) didn't deliver, we'd have chances in the eighth and ninth."
Instead, Tucker retired the next six straight WSU hitters after Muich's out to seal the 6-4 win. Tucker, who gave up just one hit in three innings, retired 11 of 12 Shockers, en route to his third save of the season.
"You try to keep the same approach against each batter," said Tucker. I got behind a couple of their hitters, but I worked my way back against them."
Rueger, however, won the decision on the hill, and moved to 6-2 on the year. The native of Mt. Vernon, Ind., scattered 10 hits and allowed three runs in six innings of work. He also struck out three.
When asked about his effort, Rueger credited his infield.
"You have great thoughts when you have a good infield, namely a double play combination like we have," said Rueger.
In addition to Frisella and Schooley's home runs, which held up in the win, Barnett had another big day. The native of W. Kallaroo, Australia, went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. So far in the tournament, he is hitting .667 (6-for-9) with a double, two home runs, four runs scored and four RBI. Emrick also had two of the Dawgs' 11 hits on the day.
