Baseball beats Indiana State, 11-3 :: Salukis improve to 5-0 at home

March 22, 2008

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University (10-7, 2-0) scored five runs in the third inning and never looked back in a 11-3 win over Indiana State (4-12, 0-2) earlier today in Missouri Valley Conference action at Abe Martin Field.

SIU clinched its second series win and remained a perfect 5-0 at home.

"You always shoot for winning a series in this league because the parity is so good," said Saluki head coach Dan Callahan. "We were productive out of the bottom of our lineup today and I was happy with that."

SIU trailed by two runs (3-1) before scoring five runs on five hits in the bottom of the third. Four of those runs came with two outs.

Lou Johanns led off with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Lairson. Chris Murphy followed with a single before Scott Elmendorf knocked in Johanns on a double. Mark Kelly was intentionally walked on the next play. After that, Bret Maugeri delivered a two-RBI single and Tyler Choate scored Kelly on a base hit to give the Salukis a 6-3 lead.

SIU scored three more runs in the fifth and one more in each of the seventh and eighth innings to bury the Sycamores for good.

Shawn Joy (2-2) earned the win after allowing three runs and striking out three in six innings. Joy also gave up nine hits and walked one.

Joy gave way to Adam Curynski in the seventh. Curynski allowed two hits and struck out one in three scoreless innings to pick up his first career save.

Brian Oliver (0-3) suffered the loss. He gave up eight hits and eight runs in four innings. Oliver walked five and struck out one, as well.

Offensively, SIU pounded out 15 hits with eight coming from the bottom of its lineup.

Aaron Roberts went 3-for-5 with a run scored and three RBI out of the seven-hole, Lairson went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI out of the nine-hole and Choate added two hits, a run and one RBI out of the six-spot. In all, eight Salukis got hits on the day.

Oliver went 3-for-5 with a RBI to top the Sycamores, who had 11 hits.

SIU goes for a sweep of ISU Sunday at 1 p.m., CST. The Salukis' starting pitcher is to be announced.