Baseball Loses to Western Michigan, 6-2

Saturday, March 19

Carbondale, Ill.

1:00 P.M.

Southern Illinois University

12-8

Western Michigan

4-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Western Michigan	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	6	10	0
Southern Illinois	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	8	1

03/19/2005 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

March 19, 2005

Final Stats

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Western Michigan (4-7) scored five runs on six hits in the top of the ninth to fuel a 6-2 comeback win over Southern Illinois (12-8) earlier today at Abe Martin Field.

Limited to only four hits in eight innings, WMU trailed, 2-1, before its offense exploded against SIU closer Andrew Weber in the ninth.

Weber entered the game in a save situation after P.J. Finigan struck out nine, walked one and allowed just four hits in a sparkling career-long eight innings.

After recording a career-high 17 strikeouts in his previous start against Chicago State a week ago, Finigan no-hit the Broncos for five of his first six shutout innings.

Meanwhile, ace left-hander Dan O'Brien was also cruising on the mound.

O'Brien, who hails from Chicago, struck out one and allowed two hits in six straight scoreless innings.

Thanks to the fine pitching duel between Finigan and O'Brien, both teams never scored until the seventh, where WMU broke the drought.

Justin Carter's one-out triple turned into a scary scene when Saluki outfielder Grant Gerrard crashed into the right field wall. Gerrard, who suffered a minor ankle sprain on the play, had to leave the game immediately after the collision.

Once play resumed, Mark Abro's single scored Carter to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead.

SIU, however, answered with four straight one-out hits during its at-bat in the seventh to take its only lead of the game.

After Ryan Hypke grounded out to short, Erik Alvarez, Brendan Lutz, Chris McCulloch and Dean Cademartori all singled. McCulloch's hit to left scored Alvarez to tie the game, while Cademartori's single to left plated Lutz for the go-ahead run.

Both teams would then come up empty in the eighth, before the Saluki bullpen self-destructed in the ninth.

Weber lasted only a third of an inning after giving up five hits in a row, including a pair of RBI-doubles and a run-scoring single. His other two runs scored on a squeeze play and a sacrifice fly.

Left-hander Adam Snyder then recorded SIU's final two outs.

Weber's shaky outing led him to his first loss of the season, as he fell to 2-1. It also helped get O'Brien off the hook, who would have taken the fall if WMU didn't score in the ninth.

Bronco reliever Derek Schlecker (2-1) was credited with the win after striking out two and walking one in 1.2 innings. He also pitched a perfect ninth.

As for Finigan, he ended up with a no-decision after being in position to get his third win of the year.

Nevertheless, he continues to dominate as the Salukis' number two starter. In fact, he has struck out 34 and walked five in 21 innings over his last three starts. On the year, Finigan boasts a 45:10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 36.1 frames.

Offensively, McCulloch went 2-for-4 with a RBI to pace the Salukis, who had eight hits on the day.

Abro and Rich Rennhack each went 2-for-4 with a run scored to top WMU.

SIU and WMU wrap up their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. Left-hander Bryan Rueger (2-2) is expected to take the mound for the Dawgs.