March 4, 2005

by Dustin Thompson
www.SIUSalukis.com

Box Score |  Photo Gallery

CARBONDALE, IL. - Southern Illinois' Matt Brewer and Grant Gerrard hit back to back homeruns in the bottom of the eighth inning, leading SIU to a 6-3 come from behind win over Northern Illinois on Friday at Abe Martin field in the Salukis' home opener.

SIU left hander Bryan Rueger cruised through five innings of shutout baseball before the Huskies scored three runs on four hits in the top of the sixth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Rueger struck out six, walked one, and allowed seven hits and three runs before leaving after seven innings of work.

SIU only trailed for an inning, before the Salukis railed to tie the game with three runs on two hits, a hit batsmen and three errors. With one out, Dean Cademartori singled to drive in Nathan Emirck, who reached on a two-base error to open the inning, Kevin Koski followed with a two- RBI single, driving in Hunter Harrigan, who was hit by a pitch, and Cademarotri to tie the game at 3-3.

The Saluki bats stayed hot as they took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, after Brewer and Gerrard each blasted their third home runs of the year, giving the Salukis the 5-3 advantage. Harrigan drove in Emirk on a sacrifice fly, leaving SIU up 6-3 after eight innings.

SIU's Tyler Norrick (1-0) struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win, and Andrew Weber picked up his second save of the year with a walk and two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.

Southern was lead offensively by Koski (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Brewer (2-for-4, RBI), Gerrard (2-for-4, RBI) and Alvarez (2-for-4).

SIU and NIU will continue their series on Sat. and Sun. with 1 p.m. games at Abe Martin Field.