Baseball beats Evansville, 5-2, secures trip to MVC Tournament

May 14, 2009

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Southern Illinois University (21-26, 9-9) scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning to key a 5-2 come-from-behind victory over Evansville (25-28, 7-15) Thursday night at Braun Stadium.

With the win, SIU clinches the final spot in this year's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, advancing to the tourney for the eighth-consecutive season. Only SIU, Wichita State and Creighton have made the tournament every year since 2002.

SIU trailed, 2-0, through eight innings before coming alive to score five runs on six hits in the ninth.

UE right-hander John Foley twirled a four-hit shutout through eight innings, but was relieved by Purple Aces closer Tom Heithoff after Chris Murphy singled to lead off the ninth.

Murphy advanced to second on an ensuing single by Scott Elmendorf and scored on a one-out base hit by Michael Stalter. Chris Serritella followed with a double and Elmendorf touched home to tie the game. Aaron Roberts walked to load the bases and Tyler Bullock flied out in foul territory along the third base side. Jordan Sivertsen then drove in Stalter for the go-ahead run on a single up the middle and Tony Lepore knocked in both Serritella and Roberts on a single to right, giving SIU a 5-2 lead.

Saluki closer Bryant George entered the game and pitched a perfect ninth inning to nail down his team-high seventh save of the season. George is 7-for-7 in save opportunities this year.

Right-hander Adam Curynski (2-4) was credited with the win after allowing nine hits and two runs in eight innings. Curynski, who earned his first win since SIU's season-opener on Feb. 20, also walked two and struck out one. He pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the third and escaped a first-and-second, two-out UE threat in the eighth, as well.

Foley was virtually unhittable, retiring 21 of the 28 hitters he faced. He also allowed just one run, struck out five, walked one and threw 93 pitches before giving way to Heithoff in the ninth.

Heithoff fell to 4-3 after his blown save.

Offensively, SIU and UE each had nine hits.

Elmendorf went 3-for-4 and scored the tying run to lead the Dawgs. Murphy followed with two hits, while Stalter, Serritella, Sivertsen and Lepore added one apiece.

Jim Viscomi and Cody Fick each had two hits to lead UE.

SIU went 17-straight innings without scoring a run until Murphy touched home in the ninth.

SIU and UE will resume their series Friday. The Salukis and Purple Aces have moved Friday's start time to 2 p.m., CT, due to the threat of inclement weather.

The Dawgs can finish fifth in the MVC with another win against the Aces.

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