Baseball Drops Series-Opener to Northern Iowa, 3-2

May 20, 2004

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

WATERLOO, Iowa - Northern Iowa (24-29, 11-18) capitalized on a pair of errors in the bottom of the eighth inning to come back and beat Southern Illinois (22-29-1, 13-15-1) 3-2 earlier tonight in both teams' series-opener at Riverfront Stadium.

After a sacrifice fly by Matt Brewer tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth, consecutive errors by P.J. Finigan and Brewer gave the Panthers runners at first and second with one out. An ensuing double by Dan Grant drove home what turned out to be the winning run.

SIU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, where Nick Baughman was hit by a pitch with one away. Baughman, who went to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a single by Cory Newman, came home when Finigan hit into a two-out fielder's choice. Newman was out on the play at third, but the run had already come across prior to the force.

With the way Saluki starting left-hander Eric Haberer was carving up the Panthers, it appeared as though he might go the distance. But, on his last pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning, he pulled a muscle in his lower back and was forced to leave the game with a 3-1 count on UNI's nine-hole hitter Nate Trumm in the sixth. Haberer allowed two hits, one run and struck out six batters, while retiring 15 of 17 Panthers prior to leaving the game.

Right-hander Marshall Tucker replaced Haberer and walked Trumm. A balk by Tucker allowed Trumm to go to second, before Seth Moulton was hit by a pitch. Shortly after a passed ball moved each runner up a base, Tucker intentionally walked Sean LaCoste for a possible double play scenario. With two outs following a Grant fly out to left, Ryan Norman hit a two-RBI single to center to give the Panthers a 2-1 edge.

SIU knotted the game at 2-2 in the top of the eighth which saw Greg Andrews hit a lead off double off the wall in right center. Andrews would go to third on a bunt single by Nathan Boldt before tying the game on Brewer's sacrifice fly. Brewer's out was the first of the inning, and SIU had the go-ahead run at third, but that runner would be stranded after back-to-back strikeouts by Baughman and Newman.

With one last chance in the ninth, SIU did have one baserunner after Finigan drew a one-out walk, but a fielder's choice and a grounder to second ended all hopes of a Saluki comeback.

Jerel Deitering (2-1) suffered the loss on the mound for SIU. Deitering allowed one hit and one run in one-third of an inning.

Eric Dejone (4-3) picked up the win for UNI. Dejone allowed two hits, a run and struck out two in 2.1 innings. He relieved starter Korey Kelchen, who limited the Dawgs to four hits in 6.2 frames. He also struck out four and gave up a run.

SIU left 10 runners on base, including two in each of the first and third innings. Andrews led the Dawgs offensively, as he went 2-for-3 with a double and one run scored. Andrews' double marked the 44th of his career, as he is now tied for fifth with Pete Schlosser (1992-95) on the school's all-time career doubles list. Additionally, SIU had just six hits on the night.

UNI finished with five hits. Grant, LaCoste, Norman, Pat Moran and Trumm each had one hit apiece.

SIU and UNI resume their series with a doubleheader at 2 p.m., tomorrow. Right-hander Josh Joiner will start game one, while right-hander Jason Chavez will take the mound in the nightcap.

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Greg Andrews

Nathan Emrick

Nathan Boldt

Matt Brewer

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