April 15, 2008

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - True freshman lefthander Nick Rice struck out two and tossed four scoreless, no-hit relief innings to help Southern Illinois University (19-15) erase a four-run deficit and beat Southeast Missouri State (14-15), 5-4, earlier today at Abe Martin Field.

SIU snapped its season-long, four-game losing streak and avenged an 11-4 loss to SEMO a week ago.

"We definitely needed a win after the Bradley series," said Saluki head coach Dan Callahan. "I'm proud of the way our guys came back after the four errors in the first three innings. Mark Kelly, Nick Rice and Michael Finigan really gave us a spark."

Tied, 4-4, Rice relieved a laboring Andrew Dunn in the sixth inning and never gave up a hit the rest of the way. SEMO hitters went a combined 0-for-10 against him. And, only three Redhawks reached base, all by way of hit by pitch, through the last four innings.

It wasn't looking good for SIU early, as it committed four errors in the first three innings.

As a result, SEMO scored three unearned runs, including one in the second and two in the third.

Matt Wagner led off the second with a double to left and scored with the help of two errors by Saluki shortstop Owen Mackedon.

Blake Slattery was hit by a pitch to start the third, stole second and scored on an error by Scott Elmendorf. Nick Harris followed with a single, stole second and advanced to third when catcher Mark Kelly's throw sailed into the outfield. Tyrell Cummings later knocked Harris in on a one-out double to left center, giving SEMO a 3-0 lead.

That, however, would be all the scoring for SEMO, as the Dawgs stormed back to tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth.

Chris Murphy reached on an infield single and went to second on an ensuing base hit by Michael Finigan. Adam Hills walked to put Salukis at every base with one out. Kelly followed with a double to plate both Murphy and Finigan. Hills came home with the help of a balk on the next play, before Tler Bullock's single pushed across another run to bring the game to a 4-4 tie.

Kelly's two-out double to right drove in Finigan for the decisive run in the sixth. Finigan set up the go-ahead run after he singled and moved into scoring position on a balk.

Rice improved to 2-1 on the season.

Lance Rhodes (0-3) suffered the loss. He gave up two hits, walked one and allowed the go-ahead run in 1.2 innings.

SIU outhit SEMO, 11-9, on the day.

Murphy, Finigan, Kelly and Maugeri all had two hits. Kelly also added three RBI. He now has 101 RBI in his Saluki career.

SIU hits the road for the rest of the month. The Salukis first visit No. 5 Wichita State for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 7 p.m., CST.