Baseball Falls to Penn State, 8-7

Sunday, March 7

San Antonio, Texas

5:30 PM

Southern Illinois University

0-11

Penn State

5-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Penn State	0	1	0	1	2	3	0	0	0	1	8	15	1
Southern Illinois	0	3	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	7	14	3

03/07/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

March 7, 2004

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Matt Harter delivered what turned out to be a game-winning single in the top of the 10th inning, as Penn State (5-1) posted a 8-7 comeback win over Southern Illinois (0-11) earlier tonight at the Irish Classic.

With the win, the Nittany Lions extended their winning streak to five games and remained undefeated in the tournament.

SIU just can't seem to catch a break. For the second straight game, the Salukis surrendered a lead of four or more runs and didn't capitalize on yet another golden opportunity to put their opponent away.

Both PSU and SIU showed clutch hitting early on, as each scored at least three of their first four runs with two outs.

PSU struck first in the top of the second when a two-out RBI-double by Travis Laird scored Lance Thompson. Thompson reached on a fielder's choice and moved into scoring position on a hit by Matt Cavagnaro.

SIU quickly answered during its turn in the second when Cory Newman ripped a three-RBI double down the left field line. Newman's two-out, two-run double, which marked his second of the tournament, drove in Greg Andrews, Erik Alvarez and Nathan Boldt to give the Salukis a 3-1 lead.

The Dawgs added to their lead in the bottom of the third, where P.J. Finigan, Nathan Emrick and Andrews singled consecutively to open the frame. Finigan, who made it to third on a throwing error by pitcher Clayton Hamilton, scored on Emrick's hit. Tyler Schooley then drew a one-out bases loaded walk to plate Emrick and push the Dawgs' lead to 5-1.

Despite giving up eight Saluki hits in the first five innings of the game, PSU kept its poise and used a Aaron Greenfield run in the fourth, and both a solo home run by Scott Gummo and a two-out RBI-double by Greenfield in the fifth to cut SIU's lead to 5-4.

The Nittany Lions would then regain a 7-5 advantage after a three-run sixth, which saw Laird, Mike Milliron and Gummo touch home on a hit by Clint Eury, a sacrifice fly by Harter and an error by Newman.

Three more SIU hits, including a one-out RBI-triple from Newman and a RBI-single by Kevin Koski helped tie the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the sixth, and from then on, it was anybody's ballgame.

After SIU pitchers Adam Snyder and Andrew Weber held PSU scoreless for the next three innings, the Dawgs couldn't have been in a better situation to pull off a win. Emrick led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to right center and quickly moved to third on a balk by Sean Stidfole.

Shortly after Stidfole's balk, PSU head coach Joe Hindelang decided to intentionally walk Andrews and Gerrard. The Salukis had the bases loaded with no one out thanks to Hindelang's gutsy move that surprisingly paid off when Alvarez lined into a double play and Josh Markle struck out.

With plenty of momentum on its side after escaping its huge jam, PSU's Millliron, Gummo and Harter each singled with one out. Harter's hit, however, scored the go-ahead run which held up in the 8-7 win.

Newman led SIU by going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, one run scored and four RBI, as the Salukis registered a season-high 14 hits. SIU also struck out 14 times to mark the fourth time this season, where it has struck out 10 or more times in a game.

Pitching wise, Andrew Weber (0-1) suffered the loss for SIU. He struck out one batter, while allowing one run and three hits in three innings.

SIU resumes play at the Irish Classic tomorrow when it faces Texas-San Antonio at 5:30 p.m.