Southern Illinois University
21-14, 6-5
Missouri St.
12-20, 4-7
Baseball Beats SMS, 8-5
04/16/2005 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 16, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (21-14, 6-5) scored six runs in the first inning en route to a 8-5 win over Southwest Missouri State (12-20, 4-7) earlier today in Missouri Valley Conference action at Abe Martin Field.
SIU trailed, 1-0, before erupting for its six-run rout in the bottom of the first.
Kevin Koski extended his hitting streak to a season-long 11 games when he led off with a single. Nathan Emrick followed with a walk and Matt Brewer was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.
Hunter Harrigan came to the plate next, and lifted a sacrifice fly to score Koski. A throwing error by SMS left fielder Kirk McConnell also enabled Emrick to score and Brewer to go to second on the same play.
With one out and a runner at second, SIU continued to chip away at SMS starter Paul Marsala, as P.J. Finigan's double plated Emrick, and Dean Cademartori roped a single to left.
Shortly after Ryan Enata struck out, freshman Ryan Hypke tripled to right center, and Cademartori scored. Then, Chris Krawczyk relieved Marsala, and Tyler Lairson reached on an error which scored Hypke and gave the Dawgs a 6-1 lead.
Down, 7-1, after the Salukis added another run in the fourth, SMS started pressing when Matt McConnell's two-out, three-run homer in the fifth and Ryan Gotcher's fielder's choice RBI in the sixth quickly cut SIU's lead to 7-5.
But, SIU reliever Ryan Welch limited SMS' explosive offense to one hit in three innings during his first MVC appearance since facing Wichita State on May 23, 2002.
SMS had two on with two outs in the seventh, before Welch got Chris Taylor to pop up to short.
In the eighth, the native of Nolensville, Tenn., forced Curtis Epperly into an inning-ending double play when the Bears had a runner on second.
Then, in the ninth, Welch caught three and four-hole hitters Tim Rafferty and Matt Weglarz looking on strikes to earn his first save of the season and second of his career.
Welch took over for Finigan (5-2), who picked up his team- leading fifth win of the season. Finigan allowed five hits, issued four walks and struck out five in six innings of work.
Meanwhile, Marsala (2-2) took the loss for SMS. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning, where he gave up five hits and six runs. He also struck out one.
Offensively, SIU's one through six hitters teamed up for eight of the team's nine hits.
Koski (2-for-5; 2 runs) and Finigan (2-for-3; 1 run; 1 RBI) paved the way with two hits apiece, while Emrick, Brewer, Harrigan and Cademartori followed with one. Hypke accounted for the other hit.
McConnell had a huge day for SMS. He went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI.
Additionally, there were five errors between the two teams, including three by SIU.
SIU and SMS conclude their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. Bryan Rueger (4-2) is scheduled to pitch for the Dawgs.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Finigan, P.J. (5-2)
L: Marsala (2-2)
S: Welch, Ryan (1)
Batting:
2B: McConnell 2 ; Rafferty 1
HR: McConnell 1
RBI: McConnell 3 ; Weglarz 1 ; Gotcher 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McConnell 2 ; Taylor 1 ; Nasby 1 ; Epperly 1
SB: McConnell 1 ; Weglarz 1
HBP: Hilgendorf 1
Batting:
2B: Koski, Kevin 1 ; Harrigan, Hunter 1 ; Finigan, P.J. 1
3B: Hypke, Ryan 1
RBI: Harrigan, Hunter 2 ; Finigan, P.J. 1 ; Cademartori, Dean 1 ; Hypke, Ryan 1
SF: Harrigan, Hunter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Koski, Kevin 2 ; Emrick, Nathan 1 ; Brewer, Matt 2 ; Finigan, P.J. 1 ; Cademartori, Dean 1 ; Hypke, Ryan 1
SB: Lairson, Tyler 1
HBP: Emrick, Nathan 1 ; Brewer, Matt 1 ; Harrigan, Hunter 1
