March 24, 2007
Box Score
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
In the second game of the three-game weekend series at Southern Illinois, the Illinois State baseball team was up against a pitcher on a roll in SIU's Cody Adams. Heading into the game, Adams was 6-0 and after the game, he upped his record to 7-0 with a 5-3 complete game victory for the Salukis (18-6, 2-0 MVC) over the Redbirds (9-11, 0-2 MVC) Saturday at Abe Martin Field.
Senior Luke Baughman (0-2) suffered the loss for the Redbirds, as he allowed five runs, four of which were earned, and seven hits in four innings of work. Relievers Dan Sorce and Jim Sajewich threw well in relief for ISU, as the duo shut down the Salukis and allowed no runs and three hits in four innings on the mound. Adams (7-0) went the distance for SIU and allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, and six hits to preserve his flawless record on the season.
ISU skipper Jim Brownlee was disappointed with the outcome of the game, but once again pleased with the way his bullpen pitched on Saturday.
"Really, Luke just made one mistake and that was the home run to Cademartori," said Brownlee. "Our bullpen has been huge the past two days, but tomorrow we need a better start on the mound. If we can eliminate the big inning, it should help our offense get back on track and we can score some runs tomorrow."
ISU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Mike Tokarski led off the inning with an infield single and then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Collin Salzenstein. Following a Matt Bolt pop out, Ryan Anetsberger came to the plate and launched what he thought was his second home run of the series, but the ball was called foul. He then proceeded to reach on an error by Adams, which allowed Tokarski to score for the first run of the game.
After the top half of the inning, though, ISU assistant coach Tim Brownlee and Anetsberger were both ejected, presumably for arguing the home run call. The Salukis then took the lead for good by scoring four runs in the bottom half of the inning. A RBI single by Mark Kelly got the tied the game at 1-1 and with runners on the corners and one out, Dean Cademartori took the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to put SIU up by three runs at 4-1.
The `Birds would not go away, however, as a RBI single by Kyle O'Brien in the top of the fourth inning and a Bolt RBI ground out in the top of the fifth inning cut the SIU lead to just one at 4-3. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Salukis once again extended the lead to two runs at 5-3 when Aaron Roberts scored on an error by Salzenstein. That is where the score would stay, as neither team scored in the final four innings of play and SIU secured the 5-3 victory.
Tokarski finished 2-for-3 three with two runs scored to pace the ISU offense, while Kelly continued his hot hitting in the series with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a RBI. Cademartori was the star of the game, though, as he finished with four RBI on the day.
Senior Mike Hlavacek (1-0, 3.77 ERA) will make his third start of the season for ISU on Sunday, hoping to help his team avoid the three-game sweep. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
