Baseball Drops Season-Opener to Stetson, 9-2

Friday, February 11

DeLand, Fla.

6:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

0-1

Stetson

1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	2
Stetson	3	0	3	1	2	0	0	0	X	9	17	2

02/11/2005 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 11, 2005

Final Stats

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

DeLAND, Fla. - Stetson University (1-0) pounded out 17 hits, and senior right-hander Ryan Dixon struck out seven in five innings during a 9-2 win over Southern Illinois (0-1) earlier tonight at Conrad Park. The Salukis and Hatters each opened their seasons in front of a crowd of 1,725.

A native of Seminole, Fla., and transfer from the University of Miami, Dixon retired 11 consecutive SIU hitters to open the game. He also recorded all but two of his strikeouts in three consecutive no-hit innings.

SIU, however, wrecked Dixon's no-hit bid in the fourth, where freshman Dean Cademartori's two-out single accounted for the Salukis' first hit of the 2005 campaign. Cademartori's hit, however, added to only six on the night for SIU.

"The one thing that disappoints me is that I thought we would have come out better offensively because we've been hitting well in our intrasquad games," said SIU head coach Dan Callahan.

Stetson scored three runs in the first and third innings to take an early 6-0 lead.

The Hatters' first three hitters of the game singled and scored in the first, while a pair of extra-base hits led to another three runs in the third.

In the first, Shane Jordan led off with a bunt single, went to second on a hit by Braedyn Pruitt and scored on a Chris Johnson single to center. Pruitt later touched home when Nick Palmisano grounded out to second, while Johnson scored on a fielder's choice.

Two innings later, Stetson registered four hits, and used a run-scoring triple by John DeStefano and a RBI-double from Jordan, to help push its lead to 6-0.

Cademartori's single, one of three straight two-out hits in the fourth, was followed by Grant Gerrard's RBI-double and junior college transfer Chris McCulloch's run-scoring single.

The Hatters' offense, however, responded with another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to shake off the Saluki attack.

Dixon (1-0) also allowed three hits and two runs in his impressive debut.

Meanwhile, SIU senior right-hander Jason Chavez (0-1) struggled from the start. He gave up eight hits and six runs in just 2.2 innings. Chavez also walked three and struck out one.

"Jason just didn't have it tonight," commented Callahan. "We got down early and I thought we started pressing a bit against a very good pitcher."

Offensively, every Hatter in the starting lineup posted at least one hit, with Jordan, Jon Still and Brandon Paritz paving the way with three hits apiece.

Gerrard went 2-for-4 with a double, one run scored and a RBI to top SIU.

Additionally, five different players with the first name of Ryan took the mound between the two teams. Dixon and Ryan Heacox threw for Stetson, while Ryan Welch, Ryan Terry and Ryan Stobart pitched for SIU.

SIU resumes its series against Stetson tomorrow at 1 p.m., CST.