May 4, 2008

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University (26-20, 7-11) allowed only one hit in a thrilling 5-4 win over Creighton (30-16, 13-8) earlier today at Abe Martin Field. The Salukis came within two outs of throwing a no-hitter against the Bluejays.

It wasn't pretty, but SIU did what it needed to get the win.

Three different Saluki pitchers, including starter Adam Curynski and relievers Jimmy Cornell and Daniel Wells, combined on a no-hitter through 8.1 innings before Daniel Etienne inherited a one-out bases loaded mess in the top of the ninth inning.

Wells, who broke SIU's all-time career record in appearances when he pitched in his 82nd game today, plunked Vicente Cafaro and walked Joe Servais. After T.J. Roemmich hit into a fielder's choice, Wells issued his second walk of the inning to Micheal Lam. Etienne then took the mound to face the top of the Bluejays' order.

Robbie Knight, after working a 1-1 count, wrecked the no-hitter with a two-RBI single to left, cutting SIU's lead to 5-4. Shortly after Elliot Soto lined out to left, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player-of-the-Year, Darin Ruf, came to the plate. Ruf hit a screaming fly ball to right field, but Aaron Roberts caught the ball to end all hopes of CU's comeback.

SIU used a pair of RBI-hits by Roberts, a run-scoring single by Chris Murphy and two-RBI double by Tyler Bullock to build a 5-1 lead.

CU intentionally walked Saluki cleanup hitter Mark Kelly to get to Roberts in each of the first and seventh innings. Roberts made the Jays pay by driving in a run on two-out base hits in each of those frames. The second of Roberts' two hits ignited a three-run seventh for the Dawgs. Bullock's double, which fell just inside the right field line, scored Kelly and Roberts to give SIU a four-run cushion.

The Bluejays had several chances to score, despite getting only one hit on the day. In all, CU had a total of 13 baserunners, five of which were left in scoring position. CU had the bases loaded in both the eighth and ninth innings, and 11 of its baserunners reached on either a walk or hit by pitch.

Curynski (3-1) picked up the win in his first career Missouri Valley Conference start. He allowed one earned run, walked three and struck out four in five innings of no-hit baseball.

Etienne earned the first save of his career after giving up a hit and recording the final two outs in the ninth.

Zak Moore (4-6) suffered the loss for CU. Moore worked six innings, giving up seven hits and two runs. He also struck out four and walked two.

SIU pitchers walked eight and hit three batters on the day.

Offensively, Murphy led the Salukis with three hits. He finished at 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI. Roberts followed with two hits, a run scored and two RBI. Kelly added a hit to keep his hitting streak alive at 10 games.

SIU ended a six-game home losing streak in conference play. The Salukis won a league game in Carbondale for the first time since beating Indiana State on Apr. 22.

The Salukis break for final exams before heading to Illinois State for a three-game series, May 9-11.