Baseball Beats SE Missouri State, 9-6

Wednesday, April 21

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

3:00 P.M.

Southern Illinois University

12-22-1

Southeast Missouri

17-19

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	1	6	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	9	11	0
SE Missouri State	2	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	6	14	2

04/21/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

April 21, 2004

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Kevin Koski went 4-for-4 with a double and one run scored, while Nathan Emrick went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, two runs scored and three RBI to lead Southern Illinois (12-22-1) to a 9-6 win over Southeast Missouri State (17-19) earlier today at Capaha Field.

The win helped SIU post its second two-game sweep of an Ohio Valley Conference opponent this season. The Salukis also registered both their first two-game sweep of SEMO and first win over the Indians at Capaha Field since 1999.

SEMO freshman Brent Lawson struggled to find the strike zone in his first collegiate start on the mound. As a result, he fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first when he gave up a lead off infield single to Koski and a double to P.J. Finigan. A two-base error would then enable Finigan to score.

Right-hander Ryan Welch also had problems from the get-go, where he gave up four consecutive hits to start the game. Eric Horstman led off with a double and scored on an ensuing single by Ernie Bracamonte. A double by Frankie Montiel followed to move Bracamonte to third, before a base knock by Freddy Lopez gave SEMO a 2-1 lead.

Another key error by the Indians' defense and four Saluki hits led to a six-run second inning for SIU.

Brewer led off with a double and touched home for the Dawgs' only earned run of the inning thanks to an error by first baseman Lopez. Brendan Lutz delivered a sacrifice fly, Nathan Boldt drew a RBI-bases loaded walk and Emrick added a run-scoring single, before Brewer drove in a pair of runs to extend the Salukis' lead to 7-2.

SEMO's top half of the order came up big again in the bottom of the second, where a lead off Horstman walk and back-to-back doubles by Bracamonte and Montiel narrowed SIU's lead to 7-4.

The Indians had another opportunity to cut into SIU's lead some more in the third. Gary Gilbert and Bryan Kurt each singled to give SEMO runners at first and second with no outs. Jerel Deitering, however, relieved Welch on the mound, and got Brady Knoll to pop up to first, before striking out Bo Jenkins and Horstman to quiet the threat.

Despite the fact SEMO came up empty in the third, it made up for its lack of scoring in the fourth and sixth.

Thanks largely in part to right-handed reliever Anthony Maupin, who retired 11 of his first 13 batters, including eight straight, the SEMO offense complemented his strong pitching effort with one run in each of the fourth and sixth innings to pull to within 7-6. A RBI-single by Montiel scored Bracamonte in the fourth, while a two-out base knock by Gilbert plated Lawson in the sixth.

With the way things were going for Maupin on the mound, it appeared as though the Indians might catch the Salukis, but Emrick's homer in the eighth ended all hopes of a SEMO comeback win. Emrick's two-out smash, which marked his first of the season and second of his career, came on a 3-2 count and easily cleared the wall in left. Koski, who singled earlier in the inning, also scored on the round-tripper to help clinch the 9-6 win.

Deitering (1-0) picked up his first win of the season on the mound for SIU. He gave up four hits, allowed one run and struck out three batters in three innings.

Four other Saluki relievers, including Marshall Tucker, Tyler Norrick, Finigan and Andrew Weber would each pitch one inning with one strikeout to help Deitering ice the win. Norrick, Finigan and Weber also retired three straight batters during their brief outings. Additionally, Weber was credited with his team-leading fourth save of the season.

Although it was out-hit, 14-11, the Saluki offense capitalized when it needed to. In addition to Koski and Emrick, Brewer also had a multiple-hit performance, as he went 2-for-5 with a double, one run scored and two RBI.

Meanwhile, Lawson (0-1) suffered the loss for the Indians after allowing four hits and five runs, to go along with one walk in just one-third of an inning.

Bracamonte and Montiel each went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles to lead SEMO at the plate. Bracamonte and Montiel's doubles added to a total of six on the day for the Indians.

In two games against SEMO this season, 10 of SIU's 15 runs were unearned.

SIU returns to Missouri Valley Conference action when it hosts second-place Creighton in a four-game series beginning Friday at 3 p.m.