Southern Illinois University
17-23, 5-8
Illinois State
19-15, 9-6
Baseball edges Illinois State, 7-6
04/25/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 25, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Aaron Roberts knocked in Scott Elmendorf on a two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Southern Illinois University (17-23, 5-8) a 7-6 come-from-behind win over Illinois State (19-15, 9-6) Saturday at Abe Martin Field.
SIU, which posted its second series win of the season, beat ISU in a series for the fourth-straight time in Carbondale. The Salukis also registered their fourth one-run victory in 13 Missouri Valley Conference games this year.
Roberts' single was one of six two-out hits for SIU in the final two innings.
SIU trailed, 6-3, before tying the game with three runs on five-straight hits with two outs in the eighth.
Chris Serritella sparked the late-inning rally with a single to right and went to third when Roberts doubled to left. Tyler Bullock drove in Serritella and Roberts on a single to left center. Jordan Sivertsen then belted a big base hit to left, scoring pinch-runner Chase Sanford all the way from first base to tie the game at 6-6.
After Saluki closer Bryant George sat the Redbirds down in order in the top of the ninth, Elmendorf led off SIU's final at-bat with a single to center. Mark Kelly moved Elmendorf to second on a sacrifice-bunt, before Serritella's groundout to first got him to third. On the next play, Roberts plated Elmendorf on a crisp single through the right side, capping the Dawgs' second-straight comeback victory against ISU.
Roberts, who hit .714 (5-for-7) with three runs scored, two doubles and two RBI in his first two games against the Redbirds, became the second Saluki to deliver a walk-off hit in 40 games this year.
ISU scored once in the first, fifth, seventh and eighth innings, and twice in the fourth en route to its three-run cushion.
George moved to 2-0 on the season after getting a strikeout and two fly ball outs in a perfect ninth.
ISU closer Jim Sagewich (2-2) suffered the loss, giving up a run, one walk and four hits in one inning.
Roberts went 3-for-3 with a run scored, double, two RBI and the game-winning hit. Serritella added three hits and three runs, while Bullock -- who is on a five-game hitting streak -- had two hits and a game-high three RBI. Elmendorf and Lepore turned in two hits apiece, as well.
Tyler McNeely and Mike Stalowy led the `Birds with two hits each.
SIU outhit ISU, 14-9, on the day. Seven of the Salukis hits came between the eighth and ninth innings.
Today marked SIU's 10th come-from-behind victory this season.
The Salukis and Redbirds wrap up their three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m., CT. Righthander Andrew Dunn (4-4, 2.98 ERA) will start on the mound for SIU.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: George, Bryant (2-0)
L: SAJEWICH, Jim (2-2)
Batting:
2B: MCNEELY, Tyler 1 ; RUFFOLO, Anthony 1
HR: MCNEELY, Tyler 1
RBI: MCNEELY, Tyler 2 ; STALOWY, Mike 1 ; COURT, Ryan 1 ; KOHLI, Evan 1 ; DEMARCO, Gabe 1
SH: MCNEELY, Tyler 1 ; KOHLI, Evan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SALZENSTEIN, Collin 1 ; MCNEELY, Tyler 1 ; RUFFOLO, Anthony 2 ; COURT, Ryan 1 ; MARTY, Cole 1
CS: STALOWY, Mike 1
Batting:
2B: Kelly, Mark 1 ; Serritella, Chris 1 ; Roberts, Aaron 1
RBI: Roberts, Aaron 2 ; Bullock, Tyler 3 ; Sivertsen, Jordan 2
SH: Kelly, Mark 1 ; Roberts, Aaron 2
SF: Sivertsen, Jordan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Elmendorf, Scott 1 ; Kelly, Mark 1 ; Serritella, Chris 3 ; Roberts, Aaron 1 ; Sanford, Chase 1
