May 20, 2006
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Saturday was Senior Day at Redbird Field and it was fitting that a senior was the star of the game for the Illinois State Redbirds. Senior Chris Frank's three RBI propelled the Redbirds (20-33, 10-14 MVC) to a 6-5 victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis (33-23, 12-12 MVC) and earned the `Birds a series win over their in-state rivals.
Mike Hlavacek (2-1) picked up the win for ISU in relief of starter Jim Sajewich and Kyle O'Brien. Hlavacek worked one and a third innings on the mound and did not allow any Salukis to reach base. Dan Frega picked up the first save of his career at ISU, as he pitched the last three innings and allowed two hits while striking out two batters. Cody Adams (4-4) suffered the loss for SIU after recording just one out in the bottom of the sixth and giving up the go-ahead run to ISU.
Southern Illinois jumped out to an early lead after scoring a run in the top of the first inning and two in the second to take a 3-0 lead. ISU would answer with a run in the bottom of the second inning courtesy of a two-out RBI single by Frank to cut into the lead at 3-1. Two more runs by the Salukis in the top of the third inning extended the lead to 5-1, but the Redbirds would not go away.
Back-to-back walks by Kris Jenkins and Kevin Dubler and a single by Gabe DeMarco loaded the bases for the Redbirds to start the bottom of the fourth inning. Jenkins then scored on passed ball to bring the score to 5-2 and Dubler and DeMarco each advanced to give ISU runners on second and third with no outs. Following a Mike Stalowy strikeout, Dubler scored on a wild pitch and DeMarco moved to third, cutting the lead to 5-3. Frank would then bring in DeMarco on a groundout for his second RBI of the day and cut the lead to one run at 5-4.
After a scoreless fifth inning, ISU took the lead for the first time in the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners on first and second, Frank knocked in his third run of the game with a single up the middle to score Dubler from second base and tie the score at 5-5. Matt Bolt followed with a RBI single of his own to score Stalowy from second base and gave the Redbirds the lead 6-5, where the score would stay thanks to three strong innings from Frega.
Frank finished 3-for-4 with three RBI in his final game in a Redbird uniform and Dubler handled the run scoring for the `Birds, as he crossed the plate three times in the series finale win over SIU. Grant Gerrard, Erik Alvarez, Bret Maugeri and Tyler Lairson each had two hits for the Salukis to pace the SIU offense, with Gerrard and Dean Cademartori each chipping in for two RBI.
With the series win over SIU, ISU finishes the season with its third series win at home against a Missouri Valley Conference opponent. The `Birds previously took two of three games from Northern Iowa and Wichita State at Redbird Field, where the team posted a 13-11 record overall in 2006.
