Southern Illinois University
3-9
Northern Illinois
4-6
Baseball suffers 1-0 loss to Northern Illinois
03/07/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 7, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Joe Etcheverry's sacrifice fly scored the game's only run in the top of the seventh inning, giving Northern Illinois University (4-6) a 1-0 win over Southern Illinois (3-9) earlier today at a gusty Abe Martin Field.
Winds were whipping at around 29 miles per hour on an otherwise warm day at Abe's Place.
A strong pitcher's duel between SIU righthander Nathan Forer and NIU lefthander Chuck Lukanen dominated the first seven innings.
Lukanen allowed six hits, walked one and struck out two through seven innings of shutout baseball, while Forer gave up only three hits, allowed one run, struck out three and walked four over that span.
Dave Reynolds, however, put a jolt in the Huskie offense when he led off the seventh with a first-pitch single off Forer. After Reynolds stole second, Justin Behm walked and NIU was in business with runners at first and second and no outs. A wild pitch followed, before Etcheverry scored Reynolds on his fly ball to center.
Missed opportunities doomed the Salukis, especially in the sixth and ninth innings.
SIU had runners at first and third with one out in the sixth when Mark Kelly was caught up in a rundown between first and second which eventually led to Scott Elmendorf being thrown out at the plate. Kelly was left at second base after Jordan Sivertsen popped up to first.
The Salukis threatened again in the bottom of the ninth, where Sivertsen delivered a leadoff single to left and moved to second on a sacrifice-bunt by pinch-hitter John Brennan. Wade Dutton followed with a single and Tony Lepore hit into a fielder's choice, getting Sivertsen to third. Aaron Roberts then grounded into a fielder's choice for the final out of the game.
Lukanen (1-2) picked up his first win in three starts this year. Reynolds was credited with the save after recording all three outs in the ninth. It marked his third save of the season.
Forer fell to 0-2 on the year.
SIU outhit NIU, 8-4, on the day. Dutton and Lepore paved the way with two hits apiece from the bottom of the Saluki order.
SIU also stranded 20 baserunners in two games, including nine today.
Reynolds went 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead NIU.
The Huskies won a series in Carbondale for the fourth time in six years. SIU has dropped seven of its last 11 games against NIU.
SIU head coach Dan Callahan, who has been battling a form of Melanoma, returned to the dugout after missing the team's first 11 games this season.
The Salukis and Huskies wrap up their series on Sunday at 1 p.m., CT. Lefthander Jimmy Cornell (0-1) and righthander Chris Wakefield (0-2) are scheduled to start on the mound.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LUKANEN, Chuck (1-2)
L: Forer, Nathan (0-2)
S: REYNOLDS, Dave (3)
Batting:
RBI: ETCHEVERRY, Joe 1
SF: ETCHEVERRY, Joe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: REYNOLDS, Dave 1
SB: REYNOLDS, Dave 1
CS: MAZIUR, Anthony 1
HBP: MAZIUR, Anthony 1
PO: WHITE, Troy 1
Batting:
SH: Brennan, John 1 ; Lepore, Tony 1 ; Roberts, Aaron 1
Base Running:
CS: Elmendorf, Scott 1
