March 21, 2004

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - A dozen Fighting Irish hitters reached base on either a hit-by-pitch, a walk or a wild pitch, as No. 8 Notre Dame (13-2) overcame a two-run deficit to beat Southern Illinois (3-13), 5-3, earlier today at Abe Martin Field.

The victory marked ND's second come-from-behind win against SIU in three games this season. The Fighting Irish also trailed by at least two runs after four innings in each of those contests, before striking late in the game to regain the lead.

Right-hander Marshall Tucker no-hit ND through his first three innings, but fell behind, 1-0, in the top of the first, where he struggled to find the plate.

With one out in the first, Danny Dressman walked and advanced to second on an error when Matt Edwards reached on a fielder's choice. Tucker then hit both Javi Sanchez and Matt Macri. Dressman scored on Macri's hit-by-pitch to give the Irish an early one-run edge.

SIU tied things up during its turn in the first, where right-hander Grant Johnson also had a rough start. Johnson began the game by allowing consecutive walks to Kevin Koski and P.J. Finigan. Koski, stole second and went to third on a passed ball, came home on a one-out, sacrifice fly by Greg Andrews to knot the game at 1-1.

Once Tucker settled down, he retired six straight ND hitters, before allowing his first hit of the game to Greg Lopez in the top of the fourth.

While Tucker appeared to have things under control for the time being, Andrews hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to get the Dawgs a 3-1 lead. Andrews' homer, which marked his team-leading sixth of the season and fourth in four games, plated Nathan Emrick, who previously singled to center.

After Tucker hit his fourth batter (Sollmann) and threw a wild pitch to open the seventh, left-handed reliever Bryan Rueger entered the game and walked the first batter he faced (Dressman).

With no outs and runners on first and second, Edwards flied out to right. Sollmann, who went to third on the fly ball, scored on an ensuing single by Sanchez. Sanchez's hit also enabled Dressman to go to third.

Rueger lasted only one-third of an inning before he was replaced by Andrew Weber. Shortly after the pitching change, pinch-hitter Chris Fournier lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Dressman for the go-ahead run.

The Saluki bullpen continued to have problems in the ninth, where Jerel Deitering and Adam Snyder allowed a combined three walks.

Deitering issued a walk to Edwards and gave up a single to Sanchez, before Snyder took over on the mound. Snyder would then throw a wild pitch and give up a walk to pinch-hitter Matt Bransfield, who was credited with a RBI after Edwards jogged home to push ND's lead to 5-3.

Just when you thought the pitching madness was over, ND closer Ryan Doherty took the hill and gave SIU a golden opportunity in the bottom of the ninth.

Doherty, had all sorts of problems locating the strike zone, and as a result, walked Koski and Finigan on eight straight pitches to start the inning. One batter later, Doherty gave up another walk, this time to Andrews, which loaded the bases.

But, with one out and runners on every base, SIU couldn't capitalize when Erik Alvarez flied out to right and pinch-hitter Tyler Schooley struck out looking to end the game.

Today's pitching circus featured a total of 13 walks, six hit batsmen and three wild pitches between the two teams.

Two-time BIG EAST Player of the Week Tom Thornton (3-1) was credited with the win for ND. Thornton went six innings in which he allowed five hits and two runs. He also struck out four and walked one. Doherty hung on to pick up the save, which marked his third of the season.

Rueger (0-3) took the fall on the mound for SIU.

Before Tucker was relieved of his duties in the seventh, he posted a career-high six strikeouts in six innings. He also allowed three hits and three runs, and issued a pair of walks.

Offensively, Emrick and Matt Brewer each had two hits apiece to lead the Dawgs. Andrews, Nathan Boldt and Cory Newman then rounded out SIU's seven hits with one apiece.

Andrews had a stellar two-game series against the Irish. He hit a blistering .750 with four runs scored, two home runs and four RBI. Also, his homer today marked the 21st of his career, which put him in a tie for ninth with Aaron Jones (1996-97) on SIU's all-time career home run list. Additionally, he has homered in each of the Dawgs' last four games.

SIU continues its seven-game homestand on Tuesday, Mar. 23, when it hosts Southeast Missouri State at 2 p.m.