Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
4-2
New Orleans
1-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 12 | 4 |
| New Orleans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Baseball Crushes New Orleans, 15-2; Sweeps Privateers
02/20/2005 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Matt Brewer hit a grand slam, Grant Gerrard hit a three-run smash and Brendan Lutz hit a two-run bomb to lead Southern Illinois (4-2) to a commanding 15-2 win over New Orleans (1-5) earlier today at a windy Maestri Field.
The win marked SIU's fourth straight, as the Dawgs swept a non-conference opponent in three games for the first time since 2002.
"Anytime you can win on the road is a plus, and the fact that we swept is even better," said Saluki head coach Dan Callahan, who played two years of college baseball at UNO.
With steady gusts of wind blowing out of UNO's ballpark, which sits near Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain, it was anticipated there might be a home run or two hit today. Instead there were three, all by Salukis.
Lutz's first career smash came in the second. Brewer then hit a grand slam in a four-run sixth and Gerrard iced the win with a three-run blast during a big five-run seventh.
With the Salukis holding a 1-0 lead in the second, Lutz went to the plate for only his second at-bat of the season, and sent Privateer starting right-hander Martin Vergara's second offering over the left field wall.
Hitting ninth in the lineup in his first start behind the plate this season, Lutz fell behind 0-1 in the count before delivering his two-run smash.
Lutz's one-out blast scored Chris McCulloch, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
Unfortunately, for Vergara, the hit batsman was one of several problems he was having early on against SIU's offense.
In addition to hitting McCulloch, Vergara also walked three Salukis, including two in the first inning. P.J. Finigan's double down the left field line and Brewer's walk with two out in the second marked the end for Vergara.
Aided by three consecutive one-out hits against UNO relief left-hander Daniel Rodriguez, SIU pushed its lead to 4-0 in the third. Erik Alvarez doubled to left center, went to third on a single by McCulloch and scored on Tyler Lairson's hit to right.
In the sixth and seventh, Brewer and Gerrard's clutch two-out home runs buried the Privateers for good. Brewer's homer marked his second of the season and 10th of his careeer, while Gerrard's was his second on the year.
SIU's big offensive surge was complemented by a sparkling pitching performance by starting right-hander Jason Chavez.
Chavez (1-1), who struggled in his first start of the season against Stetson on Feb. 11, pitched a one-hit, seven-inning gem. A native of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Chavez also allowed one run, posted four strikeouts and issued four walks.
Vergara (0-1) gave up three walks, three runs and two hits in just 1.2 innings before suffering his first loss of the season.
SIU registered 12 hits on the day and was led by Brewer, who narrowly missed hitting for the cycle after going 3-for-5 with a grand slam, triple, three runs scored and six RBI. His six runs batted in marked a career-high, while his three runs tied one.
"Matt, after working with Coach Henderson has become a more consistent and better all-around hitter," added Callahan.
Hitting .311 this season, the Salukis have posted 12 or more hits in five straight games.
Lairson and Lutz followed with two hits each. Lairson finished at 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a RBI, while Lutz went 2-for-5 with one run scored and three RBI.
SIU heads to nationally-ranked Ole Miss for a three-game series Feb. 25-27.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chavez, Jason (1-1)
L: Vergara (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Finigan, P.J. 1 ; Emrick, Nathan 1 ; Alvarez, Erik 1 ; Lutz, Brendan 1
3B: Brewer, Matt 1
HR: Brewer, Matt 1 ; Gerrard, Grant 1 ; Lutz, Brendan 1
RBI: Brewer, Matt 6 ; Gerrard, Grant 4 ; Emrick, Nathan 1 ; Lairson, Tyler 1 ; Lutz, Brendan 3
SF: Emrick, Nathan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Koski, Kevin 2 ; Finigan, P.J. 2 ; Brewer, Matt 3 ; Gerrard, Grant 1 ; Alvarez, Erik 1 ; Enata, Ryan 1 ; McCulloch, Chris 2 ; Lairson, Tyler 2 ; Lutz, Brendan 1
HBP: McCulloch, Chris 2
Batting:
RBI: Gonzalez 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rose 1 ; Costantino 1
HBP: Rose 1
