Salukis Deliver Final Blow in Midweek Slugfest

Wednesday, April 30

Murray, Ky.

3:00 p.m.

Murray State

Southern Illinois

4/30/2008 5:00:00 AM | Baseball

Southern Illinois scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning to land the final blow in a back-and-forth slugfest Wednesday afternoon at Johnny Reagan Field. The Salukis swept the home-and-home series with the 14-11 victory.

The Saukis (25-18) got on the board in the first inning as they loaded the bases on a pair of infield singles and a wak. With two outs, Aaron Roberts drove in two runs with a single up the middle.

The 'Breds (16-24) answered back in the home-half of the inning as Kyle Tiernan blooped a single into center field and Blake Helm followed with a chopper through the right side. After a Wes Cunningham sacrifice bunt, Tyler Owen plated a run with a sacrifice fly to center field. Cory Hodskins drove in the second run of the inning with a base hit down the right-field line.

The SIU offense was back at it in the second as they took advantage of a MSU fielding error to push across four unearned runs in the inning. Scott Elmendorf started the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field and was followed by a fielder's choice RBI off the bat of Mark Kelly and a two-run double to center off the bat of Dean Cademartori.

MSU had another answer in the bottom of the second as Elliot Frey walked, Evan Pettit singled and Matt Scheer singled to load the bases before Tiernan cleared the bases with a double down the right-field line. After the next two guys were retired, Owen drove in the fourth run of the inning with an RBI single to right center.

The 'Breds gained their first lead of the game in the third as Scheer beat out an infield single and stole second. Tiernan plated his career-best fourth run of the game when he score Scheer from second on a single through the right side.

SIU tied the game in the top of the sixth as Kelly delivered an RBI single up the middle and Roberts drove in another run with a groundout to short.

MSU quickly responded in the home-half of the inning as Helm singled sharply to center and score on Cunningham's double to the base of the wall in left center. Hodksins drove in the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

The Salukis' offense erupted in the eighth as they took advantage of a pair of hit batters and added four hits to push across six runs in turning a two-run deficit into the four-run victory.

The 'Breds were able to get one run back in the eighth as Owen and Hodskins singled with two outs before Andrew Cella delivered a pinch-hit RBI double down the right-field line. After Frey walked to loaded the bases, Matt Hon struck out on three pitches to end the threat and the inning.

Ian Reinhart (2-0) earned the victory as he gave up one run on three hits over 2.2 innings. Adam Curynski (3) picked up the save by allowing one hit and striking out one over 1.1 innings. Anthony Stacy (1-3) was saddled with the loss after giving up six runs on five hits over 2.1 innings.

The MSU hit parade was led by 4-for-4 efforts from Owen and Hodskins. Tiernan and Scheer added three hits each, while Tiernan's four RBIs were a career high.

The 'Breds return to the diamond on May 3 when they open a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Tennessee Tech. The series will get underway at 2 p.m.