April 25, 2009
Box Score
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Tyler McNeely hit a solo home run and drove in two runs for Illinois State but Southern Illinois' Aaron Roberts stole the show with three hits, including a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Salukis past the Redbirds, 7-6, at Abe Martin Field Saturday.
McNeely went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double as the Redbirds (19-15, 9-6 ERA) used a balanced effort to build a 6-3 lead after the top of the eighth, but Roberts and the Salukis (17-23, 5-8 ERA) rallied with four runs over the final two innings to beat Illinois State for the second-consecutive game. Roberts doubled and scored a run with two outs in the eighth as SIU tied the ballgame at six, and then drove in Scott Elmendorf for the game-winning run with two outs in the ninth.
Illinois State starter Corey Maines labored through the first three innings as the Salukis jumped out to a 2-1 lead with six hits early, but Maines flipped a switch and retired 12 of 13 in the fourth through seventh innings. Part of Maines' boost was a two-run fourth that gave Illinois State a 4-3 lead, then McNeely's solo blast in the fifth to put the `Birds up by two.
Southern Illinois used small ball to plate a run in the sixth but single runs by the Redbirds in the seventh and eighth gave Illinois State a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. Maines retired Mark Kelly to begin the eighth and notched his sixth strikeout of the game when he caught Michael Stalter looking for the second out, but things unraveled from there.
The Salukis notched five-consecutive hits with two outs while chasing Maines from the game and tied the game before Jim Sajewich finally induced a ground ball to end the inning. Southern Illinois closer Bryant George retired the Redbirds in order in the top of the ninth and the Salukis turned a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth into the game-winning run, driven in by Roberts.
Collin Salzenstein and Anthony Ruffolo joined McNeely with two hits, and Ruffolo scored two runs in the contest. Southern Illinois out-hit the Redbirds 14-9.
Both teams meet in the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m., with Ryan Copeland (3-4, 3.36 ERA) taking the mound for the Redbirds against Andrew Dunn (4-4, 2.98 ERA).
