Baseball sweeps Central Michigan, extends winning streak to five games

Sunday, February 25

Carbondale, Ill.

2:00 P.M.

Southern Illinois University

6-3

Central Michigan

2-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Central Michigan	1	0	0	3	0	1	3	0	0	8	13	4
Southern Illinois	0	1	0	0	1	7	1	0	X	10	8	1

Baseball sweeps Central Michigan, extends winning streak to five games

02/25/2007 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 25, 2007

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University (6-3) extended its winning streak to five games when it came from behind to take both games of a doubleheader against Central Michigan (2-4) earlier today at a frigid Abe Martin Field.

The Salukis downed the Chippewas, 4-2, and, 10-8, to complete their first series sweep of the 2007 season.

SIU has certainly had its way with CMU under head coach Dan Callahan.

Since 2003, Callahan-coached teams compiled a near-perfect 9-1 record against CMU. SIU also owns a seven-game winning streak against CMU after sweeping the Chippewas in its home-opener on back-to-back occasions (2006, 2007).

That's quite an impressive feat against a CMU ballclub picked to win the Mid-American Conference West Division for the second year in a row.

"Central Michigan has a tremendous program and it's a great accomplishment for our team to have swept them in back-to-back years," said Callahan.

SIU capitalized on the Chippewas' poor pitching and defense to overcome a three-run deficit in the nightcap.

The Salukis fell behind, 5-2, before three Chippewa errors led to seven unearned runs in the sixth.

Aaron Roberts, Michael Finigan, Kevin Koski and Scot Elmendorf each scored with the help of those miscues, before Dean Cademartori reached on a fielder's choice and Adam Hills walked.

With two outs following a sacrifice fly by Mark Kelly, junior Chris Crank smashed a three-run homer to left to give the Dawgs a 9-5 cushion. Crank's home run marked the first by a Saluki this season.

CMU answered with three runs on four hits to make it a one-run game in the seventh.

Ben Humphrey crushed Saluki reliever Brad Lawrence's second offering deep over the left field wall to start the inning. Eric Cannon then drew a one-out walk and later scored on a double by Scott Szpyrka. Sean Hoorelbeke's two-out single knocked in Szpyrka to narrow the gap to 9-8.

SIU tacked on another run in the seventh before CMU threatened again in the ninth.

Szpyrka and Tyler Stovall each reached on back-to-back hits to give the Chippewas runners at first and second with no outs, but Bryant George pitched out of the jam to earn his first career save.

Tyler Choate (1-0) was credited with the relief win after striking out one in two innings.

Jeff Richard (0-1) suffered the loss. He gave up five unearned runs in one-third of an inning.

In game one, sophomore right-hander Cody Adams remained unbeaten at 3-0 after he recorded a career-high eight strikeouts and allowed one unearned run in 6.2 innings.

The Salukis trailed, 1-0, but scored three runs with the help of two extra base hits in the sixth.

Koski hit a lead off double and Elmendorf reached on an error to start the inning. Cademartori followed with a two-RBI double, and later scored Kelly's sacrifice fly to give SIU a 3-1 lead.

Ian Reinhart struck out two in the final 1.2 innings to pick up his second save of the season.

Kurt Lauscher (0-1) took the fall on the mound after giving up two hits, issuing three walks and striking out four in five innings.

Offensively, SIU was out-hit 21-11 on the day.

Koski went 3-for-6 with a double and three runs scored, while Crank followed with two hits and two runs. Kelly had two hits on the day, as well.

Hoorelbeke, Stovall, Cody Allen and Szpyrka all had three hits. Hoorelbeke narrowly missed hitting for the cycle when he went 3-for-5 with a home run, single, double and five RBI in game two alone.

Defensively, CMU struggled to five errors, including four in the nightcap.

Meanwhile, Chippewa pitchers issued a total of 14 walks on the day after giving up only one in Friday's series-opener.

Each of the last four games between SIU and CMU were decided by no more than two runs.

SIU, which has now posted five-straight come-from-behind victories, returns to action at Tennessee-Martin Wednesday.