Baseball Falls to Vanderbilt, 10-8

Saturday, February 21

Nashville, Tenn.

2:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

0-5

Vanderbilt

2-0

Southern Illinois

Vanderbilt

02/21/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 21, 2004

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nine-hole hitter Aaron Garza narrowly missed hitting for the cycle by going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and two RBI to lead Vanderbilt (2-0) to a 10-8 win over Southern Illinois (0-5) earlier today in a wild game at Hawkins Field.

A freshman, Garza not only homered on the third pitch of his first collegiate at-bat, but he fueled VU's bottom half of the lineup, which ended up hitting a combined .538 (7-for-13) with six runs scored and two RBI.

After both teams went scoreless in the first two innings, Garza led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run to left. Two batters later, Warner Jones did the same thing, only he launched his deep over the center field wall. Jones' two-out smash would give VU a 2-0 lead.

VU's eight and nine hitters, Jonathan Douillard and Garza, hit back-to-back singles to spark a one-out rally in the fourth. Lead off hitter Ryan Klosterman followed both hits with a single of his own before a Antoan Richardson walk scored Douillard, a Jones' fielder's choice brought home Garza and a Cesar Nicolas base knock plated Klosterman.

Trailing 5-0, SIU needed its bats to come alive, and they did in the top of the fifth.

A lead off single by Nathan Boldt began a streak of seven consecutive hits, as the Dawgs exploded for six runs to take a 6-5 lead.

Boldt, Tyler Schooley and Kevin Koski each singled to load the bases. Moments after Koski jogged home on a balk, Nathan Emrick doubled home Boldt and Schooley. P.J. Finigan, who went hitless in his first 18 at-bats this season, couldn't have picked a better time to break out of his slump, as his single to center tied the game. Cory Newman, who reached on a bunt single and moved to third on a double by Greg Andrews, would then score the go-ahead run when Grant Gerrard grounded out to short.

But, as it's shown several times already, VU countered again.

SIU simply fell apart defensively in the Commodore fifth, where it committed three errors. Shortly after a one-out single by Worth Scott, Douillard reached when Finigan bobbled a routine grounder to short. A Garza double on the next play drove in Scott and moved Douillard over to third. Then, the Commodores tried a suicide squeeze.

Klosterman laid down a bunt that was scooped up by Saluki reliever Jason Chavez. Chavez threw home in attempt to get Douillard, but his throw sailed to the right of catcher Emrick. Douillard and Garza each scored on the play accounting for two of three unearned runs which helped extend Vandy's lead to 9-6.

Like SIU, the Commodores struggled defensively as well, especially in the top of the seventh, where two errors on one play led to a pair of Saluki runs.

Finigan led off the inning with a walk and went to second on a single by Newman. Newman's hit was bobbled by Garza in left and shortstop Klosterman made a throwing error, which scored Finigan and put Newman on third. Newman then came home on a passed ball to make it a one-run game (9-8).

VU scored one final run in the seventh, before its bullpen threw a one-hitter and posted nine strikeouts in the game's final 4.2 innings.

Stephen Shao, who picked up his first win of the season, struck out five batters and allowed one hit in 2.2 innings. Greg Moviel and Ryan Rote also registered two strikeouts apiece with Rote earning the save. SIU struck out in seven of its last 12 at-bats of the game thanks to the Commodore relievers.

Chavez (0-1) was credited with the loss after allowing two hits and four runs in one inning. He also issued one walk and posted a strikeout.

Offensively, Emrick, Andrews and Newman each had multiple-hits to lead the Dawgs. Emrick went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI, while Newman went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Andrews went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and a RBI. Additionally, Andrews is hitting .571 (4-for-7) with two home runs, a double, one run scored and three RBI heading into Sunday's series finale against the Commodores.

VU had 15 hits on the day to SIU's season-high 11. The Dawgs also had as many strikeouts (11) as they did hits.

SIU concludes its three-game series with VU on Sunday at 1 p.m. Ryan Davis will start on the mound for the Salukis.