Salukis Bring Bats in 17-4 Victory Over Breds

Monday, April 7

Carbondale, Ill.

3:00 p.m.

Murray State

Southern Illinois

4/7/2008 5:00:00 AM | Baseball

Murray State second baseman Cory Hodskins went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, but it was not nearly enough as Southern Illinois pounded out 22 hits in a 17-4 victory Monday afternoon at Abe Martin Field in Carbondale, Ill.

The Salukis (18-11) got on the board in the first inning as they loaded the bases on a pair of hits and a walk. After a strikeout, Tyler Bullock plated two runs with a single through the right side and Dean Cademartori followed with an RBI double to center. The fourth run of the inning scored on a throwing error by the 'Breds on a throw home on a fielder's choice.

The 'Breds (11-14) got one run back in the second as Chris Craycraft started a one-out rally with a base on balls. Hodskins followed with a single to center and Andrew Cella singled through the left side. Evan Pettit drove in the runner from third with a sacrifice fly to left field.

SIU added four more runs in the third inning as they got RBI singles from Chris Murphy and Cademartori, and a two-run single off the bat of Mark Kelly.

MSU got a run back in the fourth as Craycraft delivered a one-out triple off the base of the center field wall and scored on Hodksins single through the right side.

The Salukis got that run back in the home-half of the inning as a one-out single went to third on a failed pickoff attempt. The run scored on a sacrifice fly to left center that was snared on a great diving effort by Zach Noonan.

MSU pushed across another run in the fifth as they loaded the bases on a Pettit walk, Noonan single to left and Kyle Tiernan singled to right. Elliot Frey drove in Pettit from third with a sacrifice fly to center field.

SIU took advantage of a 'Breds fielding error to push across four unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kelly delivered an RBI single before Cademartori delivered the big blow, a three-run home run to left field.

The Salukis continued the offensive onslot in the seventh as they pushed across four more runs on six consecutive base hits.

MSU was able to scratch another run across in the eighth as Matt Scheer started things with a single through the left side and came around to score on Hodskins' single to right field.

Jake Donze (1-4) took the loss after giving up eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits in 2.2 innings. Nick Rice (1-1) picked up the victory after allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings.

The 'Breds return to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon as they play host to Evansville. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Johnny Reagan Field.