Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
1-12
Penn State
5-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 1 |
| Penn State | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 1 |
Baseball Beats Penn State, 12-9
03/09/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 9, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Southern Illinois (1-12) scored five unearned runs as part of a seven-run sixth inning en route to a 12-9 win over Penn State (5-3) earlier today in the consolation game of the Irish Classic.
In several games this year, including two at the Irish Classic, SIU kept getting closer and closer to victory. At last, everything came together for the Dawgs, who not only overcame a three-run deficit, but fought off a scrappy Nittany Lion offense which registered at least one hit and stranded at least one baserunner in every inning.
PSU held a 4-1 advantage after four innings, before SIU used some clutch hitting in the top of the fifth to take a one-run lead.
Freshman Kevin Koski singled to start a streak of four consecutive hits with two outs in the inning. Moments after his hit, Koski scored easily on an ensuing triple by P.J. Finigan. Finigan, whose triple marked his second of the tournament, came home on a beautiful bunt single by Nathan Emrick. Greg Andrews then followed that up with a two-run homer to right to give the Dawgs a 5-4 lead. Andrews' home run marked his team-leading third of the season.
The Nittany Lions quickly knotted the game at 5-5 during their turn in the fifth, which saw Scott Gummo draw a lead off walk, advance to second when Aaron Greenfield was hit by a pitch, and score on a two-out single by Matt Cavagnaro.
It was then in the sixth, where SIU blew the game wide open.
Grant Gerrard led things off with a single and moved to third on a double by Nick Baughman. Nathan Boldt came up next and delivered a sacrifice fly to score Gerrard.
Shortly after Gerrard's hit, Aaron Markowitz replaced Craig Clark on the mound for PSU. Following a Cory Newman walk, Koski reached on an error by second baseman Cavagnaro. Baughman would score on the play.
With two outs after a fielder's choice, Cavagnaro committed his second error of the inning, which ended up scoring Finigan and Newman.
A RBI-walk by Gerrard and a two-RBI single by Baughman accounted for SIU's last three runs of the wild inning, as the Salukis took a 12-5 lead.
After scoring one run in the bottom of the seventh, PSU made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth, where it loaded the bases.
Cavagnaro led off the inning with a double to right center and advanced to third on a single by Travis Laird. Laird stole second shortly after his hit and Derrick Barr walked to load the bases.
Left-hander Eric Haberer entered the game for the Dawgs and was touched for a RBI-single by Mike Milliron. The Nittany Lions would score one more run on a wild pitch, before Haberer struck out Gummo and got Aaron Greenfield to fly out and escape the jam.
Andrew Weber (1-1), who was one of five pitchers who threw in the game, picked up the win for SIU. In two innings, he allowed four hits and two runs, while striking out two batters to one walk.
Haberer was awarded the save, which marks both his first of the season and seventh of his career. With his seven career saves, he now ties for sixth with Jake Alley (1999-03), Mark Wooden (1984-85) and Brad Blumenstock (1994-96) in all-time career saves.
Designated hitter Baughman went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI to lead the Dawgs at the plate. Baughman hit a combined .556 in SIU's last two games of the tournament. Koski followed with two hits, while Finigan, Andrews, Emrick and Gerrard had one hit apiece. Additionally, Finigan and Andrews both had two RBI.
Craig Clark (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound for PSU. Clark gave up eight hits and seven runs, while striking out three batters and issuing three walks in 5.1 innings.
Offensively, the Nittany Lions were led by Cavagnaro and Laird, who each had three hits. PSU also out-hit SIU, 16-9, and left a total of 13 runners on base.
SIU will return to action on Thursday, Mar. 18 when it plays at Murray State. First pitch is scheduled at 2 p.m., CST.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Weber, Andrew (1-1)
L: Clark (0-1)
S: Haberer, Eric (1)
Batting:
2B: Baughman, Nick 2
3B: Finigan, P.J. 1
HR: Andrews, Greg 1
RBI: Koski, Kevin 1 ; Finigan, P.J. 2 ; Emrick, Nathan 1 ; Andrews, Greg 3 ; Gerrard, Grant 1 ; Baughman, Nick 2 ; Boldt, Nathan 1
SF: Finigan, P.J. 1 ; Boldt, Nathan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Koski, Kevin 1 ; Finigan, P.J. 2 ; Emrick, Nathan 2 ; Andrews, Greg 2 ; Alvarez, Erik 1 ; Gerrard, Grant 1 ; Baughman, Nick 1 ; Boldt, Nathan 1 ; Newman, Cory 1
SB: Andrews, Greg 1
Batting:
2B: Gummo 1 ; Greenfield 1 ; Cavagnaro 1
HR: Harter 1
RBI: Barr 1 ; Milliron 1 ; Greenfield 2 ; Cavagnaro 2 ; Harter 1 ; Laird 1
SH: Cavagnaro 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gummo 2 ; Blackburn 1 ; Eury 1 ; Cavagnaro 2 ; Harter 1 ; Laird 2
SB: Laird 1
HBP: Greenfield 1
