May 19, 2006
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Friday night's game with Southern Illinois was another must-win game for the Illinois State baseball team. The squad needed to pull out its second win of the series with Southern Illinois to keep its hopes of making the ConAgra Foods Missouri Valley Conference Tournament alive, however the Salukis (33-22, 12-11 MVC) scored in droves early to defeat the Redbirds (19-33, 9-14 MVC) 10-5 at Redbird Field to secure the sixth and final spot in the conference tournament.
Junior Kitt Kopach (3-9) suffered the loss in just 2.2 innings of work for ISU, as he allowed five runs on five hits while walking two batters and striking out five hitters. SIU starter Tyler Norrick (5-4) was strong on the mound for 6.1 innings as he allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits while striking out six batters.
The Salukis scored two runs in the second inning, three in the third and two in the fourth inning to jump out to a 7-0 lead. After scoreless fifth and sixth innings for both teams, SIU put two more runs on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning courtesy of Tyler Lairson RBI triple and a Kevin Koski RBI double to widen the lead to 9-0.
The Redbirds answered back in the bottom of the seventh with three runs on two hits and an error to cut into the SIU lead 9-3. With the bases loaded and one out, Mike Stalowy scored the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Blake Schoonover. After Ryan Anetsberger reached base on an error by SIU second baseman Brett Maugeri, the `Birds had the bases loaded once again for Jesse Griswold. Griswold came through with a two-run single to center field that scored Matt Bolt and Chris Frank to make the score 9-3.
ISU clawed back into the game in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out, bases loaded single by Bolt that scored Kevin Dubler and Stalowy to cut the lead to four runs at 9-5. However, SIU would add an insurance run in the top of the ninth to put the game away 10-5 and clinch the final spot in the conference tournament.
Schoonover paced the Redbirds, going 3-for-4 with a RBI while Griswold continued to hit well and drove in two runs. Koski led the Salukis with three RBI and Maugeri finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a RBI to jumpstart the SIU offense to the victory.
Freshman Jim Sajewich (1-6) will take the mound in the 2 p.m. finale of the three-game series on Saturday for the Redbirds. The game will also be Senior Day at Redbird Field, as the `Birds will honor four players in a pre-game ceremony and thank them for all their hard work and contributions to Redbird baseball.
