Southern Illinois University
28-17
Illinois
27-14-1
Baseball Loses in Extra Innings to Illinois, 9-7
05/03/2005 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
May 3, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Toby Gardenhire's go-ahead run in the top of the 10th was one of seven scored against the Saluki bullpen in the last five innings, as Illinois (27-14-1) beat Southern Illinois (28-17), 9-7, earlier today in a back-and-forth slugfest at Abe Martin Field.
After SIU scored three runs to take its only lead (7-5) in the seventh, Illinois used key one-out RBI-singles by Gardenhire and Mike Rhode to send the game into extra innings.
Gardenhire's hit scored Drew Davidson in the eighth, while Rhode knocked in Chris Robinson to knot the game at 7-7 in the ninth.
Gardenhire then led off the 10th with a double, advanced to third on an error and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Ryan Rogowski. J.R. Kyes, who hit into the fielder's choice where the Saluki error occurred, later scored to ice the 9-7 win.
In addition to their seven runs, Saluki relievers Mark Obszanski, Ryan Welch, Adam Snyder and Jason Chavez combined to give up nine hits and issue five walks in the game's final five innings.
Prior to its bullpen falling apart, SIU hung tight with the Illini, currently the Big Ten's first-place team.
SIU fell behind, 2-0, in the fourth, but used back-to-back two-out RBI-singles by Kevin Koski and P.J. Finigan to tie things up in the bottom of the fifth.
Although, Illinois regained a 4-2 edge in the sixth, the Salukis answered with two runs of their own.
Nathan Emrick led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, went to third on Hunter Harrigan's double down the left field line and scored on Dean Cademartori's grounder to short. Erik Alvarez's one-out single to right plated Harrigan for the game's second tie.
Shortly after Dusty Bensko's RBI-single gave the Illini another lead (5-4) in the seventh, SIU came to bat in the same inning and plated three runs to take a 7-5 advantage.
The Salukis roared to four consecutive hits in the seventh, including a bunt single by Koski, a single to right by Finigan, a RBI-double by Emrick and a two-RBI single by Harrigan.
But, from then on, Illini reliever Aaron Saving (3-0) limited the Dawgs to only one hit in the last three innings. Saving, who even took a hard line drive off his leg, also recorded four strikeouts, including two in the 10th.
Jason Chavez (2-3) was credited with the loss after giving up four hits, allowing three runs and issuing two walks in 2.2 innings. He also struck out two.
Illinois outhit SIU, 15-13, on the day and was led by Rogowski and Robinson, who each had three hits.
Finigan went 3-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI to lead SIU. Koski, Emrick, Harrigan and Alvarez followed with two hits apiece. Finigan's hitting streak is now at 13 games, while Koski's is at 21.
SIU travels to Sauget, Ill., Wednesday to take on Saint Louis in a wood bat game at GMC Stadium. First pitch is at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Aaron Saving (3-0)
L: Chavez, Jason (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Chris Robinson 1 ; Mike Rohde 1 ; Toby Gardenhire 1
RBI: Ryan Rogowski 1 ; Dusty Bensko 1 ; Mike Rohde 2 ; Trevor Huisinga 1 ; Shawn Roof 1 ; Toby Gardenhire 1
SH: J.R. Kyes 1 ; Chris Robinson 1 ; Toby Gardenhire 1
SF: Shawn Roof 1
Base Running:
RUNS: J.R. Kyes 1 ; Ryan Rogowski 1 ; Chris Robinson 1 ; Mike Rohde 2 ; Drew Davidson 2 ; Shawn Roof 1 ; Toby Gardenhire 1
SB: Mike Rohde 1
CS: Mike Rohde 1 ; Trevor Huisinga 1
Batting:
2B: Emrick, Nathan 1 ; Harrigan, Hunter 1
RBI: Koski, Kevin 1 ; Finigan, P.J. 1 ; Emrick, Nathan 1 ; Harrigan, Hunter 2 ; Cademartori, Dean 1 ; Alvarez, Erik 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Koski, Kevin 2 ; Finigan, P.J. 1 ; Emrick, Nathan 2 ; Harrigan, Hunter 1 ; Brewer, Matt 1
SB: Lairson, Tyler 1
CS: Finigan, P.J. 1
HBP: Koski, Kevin 1 ; Finigan, P.J. 1 ; McCulloch, Chris 1
