Baseball drops series finale against Owls

Sunday, April 3

Kennesaw, Ga.

12:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

7-19

Kennesaw State

18-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	0	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	6	12	2
Kennesaw State	4	2	0	2	1	0	0	1	X	10	12	3

04/03/2011 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

April 3, 2011

By Jason Clay
SIUSalukis.com

Box Score

KENNESAW, Ga. - Nick Johnson's pinch-hit grand slam was not enough for the Salukis as Kennesaw State defeated the Southern Illinois baseball team, 10-6, Sunday at Stillwell Stadium.

The Owls (18-12), fueled by back-to-back-to-back homers in the first inning, went on to lead by as many as eight and held on in the end to take the series two games to one.

Johnson gave the Salukis (7-19) their only spark in the game with his pinch-hit grand slam in the top of the sixth inning. SIU trailed 9-1 before that and got five runs in the inning behind Johnson's first homer of the season. However, Southern didn't score again after the sixth and Kennesaw State tacked on an insurance run in the eighth.

Southern Illinois did load the bases up in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate, but KSU closer B.J. Johnson struck out Dustin Huff to end the game and record his sixth save of the season.

Saluki starter Brad Drust lasted just over an inning, as he allowed six runs off of five hits, three walks and those three home runs. He fell to 0-2 on the year with the loss.

Kennesaw State left-hander Zac Griffith improved to 6-1 on the year by picking up the victory. He went 5.1 innings, gave up eight hits and five runs and had a pair of strikeouts with two walks.

The Salukis finished with 12 hits in the game and 39 for the series. Wes Neece and Austin Montgomery both had three hits for the second-straight game and the two both doubled Sunday.

Second baseman Brock Harding was able to extend his hitting streak to 11 games with his double in the sixth inning.

Kennesaw State was led by its three, four and five-hole hitters, Ronnie Freeman, Andy Chriscaden and Peyton Hart - the trio that hit the consecutive home runs in the first inning. The three combined for six hits and each batter drove in two runs in the game.

Southern Illinois now returns home to host Murray State on Wednesday at 3 p.m.