Southern Illinois University
16-23, 4-8
Illinois State
19-14, 9-5
Baseball beats Illinois State, 9-5
04/24/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 24, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Chris Murphy's three-RBI triple keyed a five-run sixth inning, as Southern Illinois University (16-23, 4-8) came back to beat Illinois State (19-14, 9-5), 9-5, Friday at Abe Martin Field.
SIU, which won a series-opener for only the second time this year, ended an eight-game losing streak in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Salukis also put a stop to the Redbirds' four-game Valley winning streak.
Murphy's triple was one of four one-out hits for the Dawgs in the sixth, who trailed, 4-3, heading into the bottom half of that inning.
Aaron Roberts ignited the rally with a single and went to second on Tyler Bullock's base hit to right. Jordan Sivertsen knocked in Roberts on an ensuing hit to left. Tony Lepore walked on the next play, putting Salukis at every base. Murphy then cleared the bases with his triple to right center, giving SIU an 8-4 lead.
The five tallies marked a season-high for most runs in an inning during a league game.
Roberts tacked on another run for SIU in the seventh when he doubled, advanced to third on a single by Bullock and scored when Sivertsen grounded into a double play.
ISU managed to score one run in the ninth, before taking the 9-5 loss.
SIU scored three unearned runs in the fifth inning with the help of a big two-base error by ISU starting righthander Ryan Camp. Camp fielded a bunt and overthrew catcher Matt Mirabal in attempt to get Bullock out on a force at the plate. As a result, Bullock scored easily, Sivertsen went to third and Lepore made it to second. Sivertsen later scored on a sacrifice fly by Murphy and Lepore touched home on a squeeze play to give SIU a 3-0 advantage.
ISU wasted no time getting the lead, answering with four runs in the top of the sixth.
Salzenstein drew a leadoff walk and stole second. Two hitters later, Mike Stalowy reached on a single to center. Anthony Ruffolo walked after that, and just like that, the Redbirds had the bases loaded with one out. Ryan Court followed with a two-RBI double and Ruffolo scored when Evan Kohli grounded out to short. Court scored on Mirabal's single to center, giving ISU a 4-3 edge.
Righthander David Kington (2-4) earned his first career MVC win in relief after giving up two hits and striking out one in 2.2 scoreless innings. Kington replaced Adam Curynski, who left the game after allowing four runs on three hits in 5.1 innings. Curynski struck out six and walked four, as well.
Camp (4-2) suffered the loss for ISU. He worked 5.1 innings, giving up eight runs and seven hits. Camp also walked five and struck out two.
Offensively, SIU outhit ISU, 10-7.
Bullock, who boosted his batting average to a team-high .349 in conference play this season, went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Mark Kelly, Roberts and Sivertsen followed with two hits each. In addition, Murphy knocked in a career-high four RBI on the day.
Roberts, Bullock, Sivertsen and Lepore combined for seven hits and eight runs out of the bottom of SIU's lineup.
Salzenstein and Stalowy led the Redbirds with two hits apiece.
Defensively, SIU went without an error for the first time in a Valley game since the series finale against Northern Iowa (Mar. 22). The Salukis committed an error in eight-consecutive league games prior to today.
SIU and ISU resume their series on Saturday at 2 p.m., CT. Lefthander Jimmy Cornell (2-1, 2.51 ERA) will start on the mound for the Dawgs.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kington, David (2-4)
L: CAMP, Ryan (4-2)
Batting:
2B: COURT, Ryan 1
RBI: SALZENSTEIN, Collin 1 ; COURT, Ryan 2 ; KOHLI, Evan 1 ; MIRABAL, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SALZENSTEIN, Collin 1 ; STALOWY, Mike 1 ; RUFFOLO, Anthony 1 ; COURT, Ryan 1 ; DEMARCO, Gabe 1
SB: SALZENSTEIN, Collin 1
CS: SALZENSTEIN, Collin 1
HBP: RUFFOLO, Anthony 1 ; KOHLI, Evan 1
Batting:
2B: Roberts, Aaron 1 ; Bullock, Tyler 1
3B: Murphy, Chris 1
RBI: Murphy, Chris 4 ; Elmendorf, Scott 1 ; Kelly, Mark 1 ; Sivertsen, Jordan 1
SH: Murphy, Chris 1 ; Lepore, Tony 1
SF: Murphy, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Murphy, Chris 1 ; Roberts, Aaron 2 ; Bullock, Tyler 2 ; Sivertsen, Jordan 2 ; Lepore, Tony 2
CS: Elmendorf, Scott 1
