Southern Illinois University
18-25, 6-9
Bradley
15-25, 2-11
Baseball drops series-opener to Bradley, 1-0
05/01/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
May 1, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
PEORIA, Ill. - Nick Mitidiero's walk-off home run gave Bradley University (15-25, 2-11) a 1-0 win over Southern Illinois (18-25, 6-9) Friday night at O'Brien Field.
Righthander Adam Curynski gave SIU its best start of the season, limiting BU to just four hits in eight scoreless innings. Curynski, who threw only 69 pitches, also struck out one, did not allow a walk, recorded 11 groundball outs and faced 28 batters (four over the minimum).
Curynski, however, was relieved by righthander David Kington in the ninth.
Kington (2-5) got leadoff hitter Grant Escue out on a fly ball to left, before Mitidiero crushed his next offering deep over the left field wall, sending the Braves to their second Missouri Valley Conference win of the season.
While Curynski was cruising through the Braves lineup, BU righthander Rob Scahill was equally impressive.
Scahill (3-2) allowed four hits, struck out five and walked one in the first complete game shutout of his career. He registered 16 groundball outs, nine of which were fielded by Braves shortstop Tommy Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald set a new O'Brien Field single-game collegiate record with nine assists. Scahill retired the Dawgs in order in each of the first, third, fourth, sixth and ninth innings, as well.
Offensively, Mitidiero and Fitzgerald led BU with two hits each. Aaron Roberts, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games, went 2-for-4 to lead SIU.
Only 12 runners reached base between SIU and BU tonight.
The Braves ended the Salukis' three-game winning streak in league play. In addition, SIU lost a 1-0 game for the second time in 43 games this year.
SIU and BU resume their series on Saturday at 6 p.m., CT. Lefthander Jimmy Cornell (2-1, 2.88 ERA) will start on the mound.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Scahill, Rob (3-2)
L: Kington, David (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Murphy, Chris 1
SH: Bullock, Tyler 1
Base Running:
HBP: Sivertsen, Jordan 1
Batting:
HR: Mitidiero, Nick 1
RBI: Mitidiero, Nick 1
SH: Kimble, Adam 1 ; Fritz, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mitidiero, Nick 1
CS: Fitzgerald, Tommy 1
