Southern Illinois University
7-13
Middle Tennessee
14-3
Baseball falls to Middle Tennessee, 11-3
03/18/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 18, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Bryce Brentz went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run and four RBI to lead Middle Tennessee State (14-3) to a commanding 11-3 win over Southern Illinois (7-13) earlier today at Reese Smith Field.
MTSU had three, three-run innings en route to putting up double-digit runs for the 10th time in 17 games this season. The Blue Raiders hit three home runs, stole three bases and saw each of its first seven baserunners get into scoring position.
The Blue Raiders, who had four-straight two-out hits in the ninth inning of Tuesday's game, picked up right where they left off today.
Righthander Brian Pullyblank, who took the mound with a 1-0 lead for his first career start, gave up a walk and three hits in the bottom of the first. Tyler Burnett drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Drew Robertson followed with a single and went to second on a sacrifice-bunt. With two outs and runners at second and third, Brentz rifled a line drive off Pullyblank's ankle, allowing Burnett and Robertson to score. Brentz, after stealing second and moving to third on a balk, touched home on Nathan Hines' base hit to give the Blue Raiders a 3-1 lead.
After tacking on another run in the second, MTSU buried SIU with three more runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings and one in the eighth.
Brentz hit a two-run homer and Blake McDade knocked in a run on a two-out single in the fifth. Stuart Meinhart then launched a two-run homer on a 3-1 count and Burnett scored on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Meinhart homered in his second-straight at-bat to cap the 11-3 win with two outs in the eighth.
Scott Elmendorf drove in SIU's other two runs on a solo home run in the fifth and single in the ninth. Both of those hits came with two outs. Elmendorf's homer marked his first of the season and first in 64 games.
Righthander Chad Edwards moved to 3-0 on the year. Edwards worked seven innings, giving up six hits and two runs. He also struck out five and walked none.
Pullyblank (0-1) took the fall after allowing four runs on three hits in just 1.1 innings. He also walked two and struck out one.
Burnett (2), Robertson (2), Meinhart (2) and Hines (2) joined Brentz with multiple-hits on the day. Those five combined for 12 of MTSU's 14 hits.
Elmendorf went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI to lead SIU. The Salukis finished with nine hits.
SIU returns to Carbondale to open Missouri Valley Conference play against Northern Iowa this weekend. The Salukis and Panthers open a three-game series on Friday at 3 p.m., CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Edwards, Chad (3-0)
L: Pullyblank, Brian (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Lepore, Tony 1
HR: Elmendorf, Scott 1
RBI: Kelly, Mark 1 ; Elmendorf, Scott 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Roberts, Aaron 1 ; Cerven, Tom 1 ; Elmendorf, Scott 1
HBP: Roberts, Aaron 1
Batting:
2B: Burnett, Tyler 1 ; Bishop, Rawley 1
HR: Meinhart, Stuart 2 ; Brentz, Bryce 1
RBI: Burnett, Tyler 1 ; Dean, Zach 1 ; Meinhart, Stuart 3 ; Brentz, Bryce 4 ; Hines, Nathan 1 ; McDade, Blake 1
SH: Dean, Zach 1 ; Dennis, Taylor 1
SF: Dean, Zach 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burnett, Tyler 2 ; Robertson, Drew 2 ; Meinhart, Stuart 3 ; Brentz, Bryce 2 ; Bishop, Rawley 1 ; McDade, Blake 1
SB: Brentz, Bryce 2 ; Hines, Nathan 1 ; McDade, Blake 1
CS: Burnett, Tyler 1 ; Hines, Nathan 1
