Southern Illinois University
Creighton
Baseball Splits with Creighton, Takes 2-1 Series Lead
05/03/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
May 3, 2003
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Omaha, Neb. - Greg Andrews went 6-for-8 with four doubles, a run scored and three RBI to lead Southern Illinois (25-20, 16-10) to a split with Creighton (17-29, 11-12) earlier today in a doubleheader at CU Sports Complex. SIU lost the first game, 11-1, but battled back to win a 9-7 thriller in the nightcap.
Andrews, along with Sal Frisella, Toby Barnett, Josh Markle and Matt Brewer each had at least three hits as part of a vicious 16-hit attack.
SIU overcame an early two-run deficit in the top of the third, where a single by Frisella fueled a two-out rally. After stealing second to get into scoring position, Frisella was driven in on a double by Barnett. Andrews followed with a RBI-double on the next play which tied the game at 2-2.
The Salukis added two more runs in the top of the fifth. Frisella led off with a single and advanced to second on a Barnett walk. Andrews then placed a pretty bunt just inside the third base line and scored when Nathan Boldt hit into a double play. A Markle single to left plated Barnett shortly after the DP to give SIU a 4-2 advantage.
Another single by Barnett and doubles by Andrews and Markle helped the Dawgs get three more runs in the top of the seventh. Barnett, who hit safely to lead off the frame, quickly scored on Andrews' double to left center. After doubling to the gap in right center, Markle scored on a Brewer single, as the Salukis' extended their lead to 7-2.
SIU kept pounding away at CU, and as a result, scored two final runs in the eighth. Frisella singled with one out and scored on a Barnett triple down the right field line. Another double by Andrews enabled Barnett to score easily.
Ahead 9-2 going into the bottom of the eighth, SIU nearly lost its lead when it fell victim to a five-run Bluejay rally. Leadoff hitter Gabe Lapito reached on an error by Boldt and scored on a triple by Tony Roth. After Pete Wiedewitsch scored Roth on a grounder to second, Ryan Fitzgerald and Dan Norquist singled, consecutively. Zach Daeges then hit a RBI-double and Matt Hammer delivered a two-RBI single to chop the Saluki lead to 9-7.
Freshman Tyler Norrick, however, retired the 'Jays in order in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the win for the Dawgs. Norrick's second save of the series followed a nice pitching performance by Josh Joiner. Joiner, who moved to 5-3 on the year, did not allow a hit in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. In 7.1 innings, Joiner struck out two batters, issued one walk and gave up 10 hits. The native of Jonesboro, Ill., also allowed seven runs.
Brandon Bird (1-3) suffered the loss for CU. Bird, who failed to get an out, gave up two hits and two runs after entering the game when the score was tied at 2-2.
CU used back-to-back, five-run innings to crush SIU in game one. Half of CU's 10 tallies came on a pair of home runs, as the Bluejays handed the Salukis their worst league loss since falling to SMS (12-1) on April 20. A three-run homer by Fitzgerald in the third and a two-run blast by Hammer was all it took to help the Bluejays to victory.
Bryan Rueger fell to 5-2 on the season after lasting just 2.2 innings. In his short span, Rueger gave up five hits, six runs and four walks. Jim Vogel pitched the final 3.1 frames which saw him scatter four hits and allow five runs. Vogel also walked three.
Jeff Daneff (3-2) picked up the win for CU. In seven innings, Daneff allowed five hits and gave up just one run. He also struck out four en route to his third win of the season.
A Frisella home run in the top of the fourth accounted for SIU's only run of the game. Frisella's bomb, which marked the 25th of his career, placed him alone in fifth on the school's all-time career home run list. Frisella broke a three-way tie with Tim Kratochvil (1993-96) and Brad Benson (1997-98) for sole possession of that spot.
SIU, who holds a 2-1 series lead, wraps up its four-game set against CU tomorrow at 1 p.m.
