Southern Illinois University
14-20
Southeast Missouri
19-14
Baseball rallies late to beat SE Missouri, 4-2
04/14/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 14, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southern Illinois University (14-20) came from behind to beat Southeast Missouri State (19-14), 4-2, in 10 innings earlier today at Capaha Field.
Tony Lepore knocked in the go-ahead run on a two-out single in the top of the 10th and Bryant George broke the school's all-time career saves record in SIU's dramatic finish.
SIU trailed, 2-0, before scoring all four of its runs in the final three innings.
The Salukis started chipping away at SEMO's lead in the top of the eighth inning when Mark Kelly launched a solo home run with one out. The home run was one of three hits for Kelly on the day.
SIU was behind by a run and down to its final out in the ninth when Chris Murphy went yard to tie the game at 2-2. Murphy easily cleared the 380-feet sign in right for his fourth home run of the season.
SEMO had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but David Kington got Jim Klocke to hit into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, sending the game to extra innings.
The Salukis then buried the Redhawks for good in the 10th.
Michael Stalter drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Serritella. Jordan Sivertsen was intentionally walked and Tyler Bullock struck out. Lepore singled home Stalter on the next play. Moments later, Aaron Roberts walked and Sivertsen touched home on a balk to give SIU a 4-2 edge.
George entered the game in the bottom of the 10th and gave up a leadoff single to Matt Wagner and walked Tyrell Cummings. Wagner and Cummings advanced on Jesse Teirney's ensuing sacrifice bunt and SEMO was in business with runners at second and third and one out.
George, however, struck out Kenton Parmley and forced Nick Harris to ground out to short, earning both his team-high fifth save of the season and 20th of his career. George surpassed Al Levine (19 saves, 1990-91) for SIU's career record.
Kington (1-4) allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one in 1.1 scoreless innings en route to his first win of the season. He also slammed the door on SEMO's bases loaded threat in the ninth. Klocke (2-2) suffered the loss for the Redhawks. He worked 2.2 innings, giving up four hits, three runs and three walks. Klocke also struck out two and balked in a run.
SIU registered 11 hits on the day, with Kelly going 3-for-5 with a home run, a run scored and one RBI to lead the way. Kelly had seven hits in two games against the Redhawks this year.
Tony Spencer, Klocke, Wagner and Harris each had two hits to lead SEMO, which finished with 10 hits.
SIU took two games from SEMO for the first time since 2004.
SIU is back in action against Illinois on Wednesday. The Salukis and Fighting Illini will play at Rent One Park in Marion. First pitch is set for 6 p.m., CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kington, David (1-4)
L: KLOCKE, Jim (2-2)
S: George, Bryant (5)
Batting:
2B: Stalter, Michael 1 ; Roberts, Aaron 1
HR: Murphy, Chris 1 ; Kelly, Mark 1
RBI: Murphy, Chris 1 ; Kelly, Mark 1 ; Lepore, Tony 1
SH: Serritella, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Murphy, Chris 1 ; Kelly, Mark 1 ; Stalter, Michael 1 ; Sivertsen, Jordan 1
HBP: Murphy, Chris 1
PO: Murphy, Chris 1 ; Serritella, Chris 1
Batting:
2B: KLOCKE, Jim 1
RBI: SPENCER, Tony 1 ; WAGNER, Matt 1
SH: SPENCER, Tony 1 ; TIERNEY, Jesse 1 ; MOSES, Trenton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SPENCER, Tony 1 ; PARMLEY, Kenton 1
HBP: WHEELER, Justin 1
