Southern Illinois University
13-20
Jacksonville State
19-12
Baseball swept by Jacksonville State, 8-5, 6-3
04/11/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 11, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Jacksonville State University (19-12) used a pair of three-run victories to sweep Southern Illinois (13-20) in a doubleheader Saturday at Abe Martin Field. The Gamecocks won by scores of 8-5 and 6-3.
SIU, which has lost seven of its last nine games, was swept in a series for the third-straight time.
The Salukis travel to Southeast Missouri State Tuesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m., CT.
Jacksonville State 8, Southern Illinois 5
Lefthander Daniel Watts allowed just one run on two hits and struck out seven in 5.2 sparkling innings to lead Jacksonville State in game one.
Watts tossed five-straight innings of shutout, one-hit baseball before giving up his only run when Mark Kelly delivered a two-out RBI-single in the bottom of the sixth.
Watts worked with a two-run lead until the Gamecocks busted the game open with four runs in the fourth.
Jake Welch drew a leadoff walk and went to second when Daniel Adamson was hit by a pitch. Sam Eberle doubled home Welch and Adamson. Jake Sharrock followed with a bunt single and Spencer Brandes knocked in Eberle on a single to right. Sharrock then touched home on a two-out wild pitch to give JSU a 6-0 lead.
JSU held an 8-2 advantage entering the bottom of the ninth inning, where SIU posed its biggest threat.
Chris Serritella reached on an error and went to second on a single by Tony Lepore. On the next play, Scott Elmendorf slugged his third home run of the season over the wall in left center to slice the Gamecocks' lead to 8-5.
However, JSU reliever Jordan Beistline recorded the final two outs of the game to earn his first save of the season.
Watts, who improved to 3-2 on the year, threw 97 pitches on the day.
Righthander Nathan Forer (0-5) took the fall for SIU. Forer was roughed up for seven hits and six runs in four innings. He also walked one, struck out one, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch. Forer has allowed 17 hits and 15 runs in 7.2 innings over his last two starts.
SIU struck out a season-high 12 times, with the bottom five hitters in its lineup combining for nine.
Lepore went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Elmendorf went 1-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI to lead the Salukis, who had seven hits.
JSU registered 11 hits, with Todd Cunningham paving the way. Cunningham went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and three runs scored. Cunningham gave the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead just two hitters into the game.
Jacksonville State 6, Southern Illinois 3
A three-run sixth inning keyed Jacksonville State's 6-3 win in the nightcap.
Five-consecutive JSU hitters reached base in sixth. Kyle Bluestein led off with a double down the left field line and scored on an ensuing double by Jake Welch. Daniel Adamson reached on an error, before Sam Eberle singled to load the bases with no outs. Heath Wall then walked and Welch scored. Adamson later touched home on a sacrifice fly by Todd Cunningham to give JSU a 5-1 lead.
After Bluestein scored again in the seventh, SIU led off back-to-back innings with home runs. Chris Murphy (seventh) and Tyler Bullock (eighth) each homered to right, cutting JSU's lead to 6-3.
SIU had other chances, but didn't capitalize. As a result, the Salukis stranded two runners in the third, left the bases loaded in the sixth and stranded two in the ninth. All but three of those runners made it into scoring position.
Lefthander Tanner Freshour (1-2) was credited with the win after giving up one run on two hits in 3.1 innings of relief. Freshour walked three and struck out three, as well.
Righthander Adam Curynski (1-3) suffered the loss. Curynski allowed eight hits and five runs and recorded five strikeouts in five innings. He also retired nine-straight before JSU's three-run sixth inning.
Offensively, Mark Kelly went 3-for-4 to lead SIU. Murphy and Bullock followed with two hits each.
Steven Leach, Bluestein, Welch and Eberle had two hits apiece to lead JSU, which outhit the Dawgs, 12-10. The Gamecocks were also charged with three errors, including two by shortstop Heath Wall.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tanner Freshour (1-2)
L: Curynski, Adam (1-3)
S: Bill Henke (7)
Batting:
2B: Kyle Bluestein 1 ; Jake Welch 1 ; Sam Eberle 1
RBI: Todd Cunningham 1 ; Jake Welch 1 ; Heath Wall 2 ; Andrew Edge 1
SF: Todd Cunningham 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kyle Bluestein 2 ; Jake Welch 1 ; Daniel Adamson 2 ; Sam Eberle 1
CS: Blake Seguin 1
HBP: Blake Seguin 1
Batting:
2B: Elmendorf, Scott 1 ; Bullock, Tyler 1
HR: Murphy, Chris 1 ; Bullock, Tyler 1
RBI: Murphy, Chris 1 ; Elmendorf, Scott 1 ; Bullock, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Murphy, Chris 2 ; Bullock, Tyler 1
PO: Sanford, Chase 1
