March 23, 2007
Box Score
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
The Illinois State baseball team came into Friday's game against Southern Illinois with 18 games under its belt. However, none of those games had been against Missouri Valley Conference opponents and the Redbirds were ready to face a fellow Valley foe. However, the first game of the three-game weekend series did not turn out as planned for ISU (9-10, 0-1 MVC), as the `Birds fell 6-3 in their conference opener against SIU (17-6, 1-0 MVC) at Abe Martin Field.
Freshman starter Ryan Copeland (2-2) suffered the loss for ISU, as he allowed five earned runs and seven hits in just one and a third innings of work. The bullpen was solid for the Redbirds, though, as Tyler Cox and Eric Theisen allowed only one run in six and two-thirds innings on the mound. SIU starter Jordan Powell (5-2) shut down ISU on the way to the victory, allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, and five hits in five innings of work. Closer Bryant George picked up his fifth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
ISU head coach Jim Brownlee thought his team had their chances in the loss, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
"We had our chances in the third inning to really tack on some runs and cut into that lead, but could only push two runs across the plate," said Brownlee. "It's disappointing to start league play by giving up a five-spot like that and then their pitchers did their job by shutting down our hitters for the rest of the game. Now, we just have to wipe this game out of our memories and come back out tomorrow and be competitive."
After a scoreless first inning by both teams, the Salukis blew the game open early with five runs in the bottom of the second inning off Copeland. A RBI triple by Tyler Lairson plated the first run of the inning for SIU and he later scored on a Michael Finigan single up the middle for the second run of the game. A RBI single by Aaron Roberts then scored Finigan to make the score 3-0. The Salukis then loaded the bases with one out and Mark Kelly singled into left field off Cox to plate two runs and widen the lead to 5-0.
Much like they have all year, the Redbirds answered in the top of the third inning with two runs to cut into the SIU lead at 5-2. With two outs, Collin Salzenstein walked and Matt Bolt was hit by a pitch to start the ISU rally. Ryan Anetsberger then laced a grounder to third base and Scott Elmendorf mishandled the ball, loading the bases for ISU. Kevin Dubler then singled up the middle to score Salzenstein and Bolt and cut the Salukis' lead to three.
SIU tacked on one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend its lead to 6-1. Both teams went scoreless in the fifth inning, but ISU cut the SIU lead in half in the top of the sixth inning off the bat of Ryan Anetsberger. The Redbird third baseman took the first pitch he saw and launched it over the left field wall for his third home run of the season and brought the Redbirds within three runs at 6-3.
However, that would be as close as the `Birds would get and SIU relievers Kyle Catto, Ian Reinhart and George combined for four scoreless innings of relief to secure the 6-3 win. Dubler and Kyle O'Brien each had two hits to pave the way for the Redbirds on offense, while Kelly continued his torrid hitting this season going 4-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Salukis.
Senior Luke Baughman (0-1) will take the mound on Saturday for the Redbirds against SIU ace Cody Adams (6-0). First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Abe Martin Field.
