Baseball Loses to Northern Illinois, 5-1

Friday, February 27

Carbondale, Ill.

2:00 P.M.

Southern Illinois University

0-7

Northern Illinois

2-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Northern Illinois	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	1	5	8	0
Southern Illinois	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	1

02/27/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 27, 2004

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Left-hander Joe Piekarz threw a complete game which included eight scoreless innings to lead Northern Illinois (2-2) to a 5-1 win over Southern Illinois (0-7) earlier today in the Salukis' home opener at Abe Martin Field.

SIU has never opened a season at 0-7 since continuous baseball began in 1947. The closest to the Salukis' season-opening, seven-game losing streak was a stretch of six consecutive losses that opened both the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Saluki right-hander Marshall Tucker started strong on the mound by allowing one hit in five scoreless innings to open the game.

While Tucker was cruising early on, SIU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, where Greg Andrews doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Brewer.

But, unfortunately for Tucker, SIU's offense couldn't produce anymore and the Salukis' defense had another crucial mishap, which at the time, seemed to change the complexion of the game.

Anthony Venetucci led off the top of the sixth by reaching second on a two-base error by Nathan Boldt. Josh Owens hit into a fielder's choice and Venetucci was called out on a force at third. Owens went to second on a wild pitch and moved to third when Mike Brown flied out to center.

With two out, Jeremy Busch's single to right scored Owens to tie the game.

On the next play, Tucker tried to pick off Busch, who had a sizable lead at first, but his throw sailed wide of Nathan Emrick. As a result of Tucker's throwing error, Busch went to third and was driven home on a Scott Simon single.

Clinging to a one-run advantage (2-1), Venetucci hit a two-run homer over the left field wall to extend the Huskies lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh.

NIU would get one more run in the top of the ninth when Owens laid down a bunt-single to score Mike Hochhauser on a squeeze play. Hochhauser walked and advanced to third on a Eric Sansouci double prior to icing the 5-1 win.

Piekarz (1-0) allowed six hits, issued two walks, gave up one run and struck out four batters in his nine-inning gem.

Tucker, who fell to 0-3, gave up three hits, two runs and three walks in 5.2 innings. In addition, his 5.2 innings marked the longest outing he's pitched as a starter this season.

Seven Huskies each had one hit apiece to account for NIU's balanced offense, which came up big when it needed to.

SIU was led by Andrews and Boldt who each went 2-for-4. Andrews also scored the Salukis' only run in his third multiple-hit outing of the season. P.J. Finigan and Brendan Lutz each had one hit for the Dawgs as well.

SIU resumes its three-game series against NIU tomorrow at 1 p.m. Left-hander Bryan Rueger will start on the hill for the Salukis, while left-hander Zach Minor takes the mound for the Huskies.