Baseball beats Bradley, 4-2, in 11 innings

Saturday, May 2

Peoria, Ill.

6:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

19-25, 7-9

Bradley

15-26, 2-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	4	10	1
Bradley	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	6	2

05/02/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

May 2, 2009

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

PEORIA, Ill. - Tyler Bullock went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and drove in the go-ahead run on a single in the top of the 11th inning to give Southern Illinois University (19-25, 7-9) a 4-2 win over Bradley (15-26, 2-12) Saturday night at O'Brien Field.

The game was deadlocked at 2-2 after 10 innings when Aaron Roberts reached on a throwing error by BU shortstop Tommy Fitzgerald to start the 11th. On the next play, Roberts broke for second on a hit-and-run, but Bullock took the pitch. Roberts, however, was ruled safe after sliding under Fitzgerald's tag. Roberts advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the go-ahead run when Bullock singled to right. Three hitters later, Scott Elmendorf knocked in pinch-runner Chase Sanford on a two-out single to right, giving SIU a 4-2 lead.

Saluki closer Bryant George handled things the rest of the way, retiring the Braves in order in the bottom of the 11th. George improved to 3-0 on the year after allowing two hits and a walk in 3.2 scoreless innings.

SIU took an early 1-0 lead when Mark Kelly scored Chris Murphy on a long single off the top of the right field wall in the third. Kelly now ranks fourth at SIU with 148 career RBI.

Bullock added another run when he launched his team-high seventh home run over the left field wall with two outs in the sixth. The home run also marked Bullock's third in five career games against the Braves.

BU rallied late to tie the game.

Adam Kimble led off the seventh inning with a double to right and came around to score with the help of a Phil Kaiser single and sacrifice fly by Brett Hendricks.

An inning later, Fitzgerald tripled off Saluki reliever David Kington to start the eighth. Moments after Kington gave way to George, Grant Escue flied out center and Fitzgerald scored to tie the game at 2-2. George went on to sit down 10 of the 12 hitters he faced.

Left-hander Jimmy Cornell gave SIU a strong start and pitched with a lead through seven innings. Cornell allowed just one run on three hits, while striking out four and walking one over that span.

Right-hander Brad Altbach (1-6) suffered the loss in relief for the Braves. Altbach allowed two runs and scattered three hits in two innings.

SIU outhit BU, 10-6, on the night. Bullock paved the way with three hits, a run scored and two RBI. Michael Stalter followed with two hits. Bullock registered multiple-hits for the sixth time in his last nine starts.

Murphy, Elmendorf, Kelly, Roberts and Tony Lepore accounted for the rest of the Saluki hits. Roberts pushed his hitting streak to 12 games, matching the longest hitting streak of any Saluki this season.

SIU, which ended a five-game losing streak against BU, saw its leadoff man reach base in six innings.

SIU won in extra innings for the fourth time this season. Tonight's game marked the longest for both the Salukis and Braves this year. SIU has not allowed a run in four extra-inning games, outscoring its opponents, 13-0.

In addition, this weekend was the first time a series did not result in a sweep for SIU since it split two games at Middle Tennessee State on Mar. 17-18. Each of SIU's last six series prior to this weekend were sweeps.

SIU and BU conclude their series on Sunday at 1 p.m., CT. Right-hander Andrew Dunn (5-4, 2.55 ERA) will take the mound for the Dawgs.