April 26, 2009
Final Stats
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois pitchers Andrew Dunn and David Kington combined for a six-hit shutout as Southern Illinois completed a Missouri Valley Conference series sweep with an 8-0 win over Illinois State at Abe Martin Field Sunday.
Dunn, and an injury to Illinois State shortstop Collin Salzenstein in batting practice before the game, had the Redbirds (19-16, 9-7 MVC) off balance early as he retired the first eight batters he faced, and 12 of the first 13 through four innings. Salzenstein was replaced in the lineup by Mark Menaker, who made his first collegiate start at second base, and Mike Stalowy shifted to short.
Menaker had two of the Redbirds' six hits in the game and reached a third time with a walk in the ninth inning. Dunn worked around five Illinois State base runners through five innings, thanks largely to not allowing a runner with less than two outs. Corey Maines reached third on a Menaker single in the top of the fifth, but that was the closest the Redbirds would come to scoring.
Salzenstein's presence was missed most in the field as a throwing error by Stalowy kept the first inning alive and allowed the first run of the game to score with two outs. Later in the inning, a ball glanced off Menaker's glove and rolled into the outfield and allowed more runs to score. In all, the Salukis plated five runs in the first inning - all unearned - against Ryan Copeland and Illinois State.
The Salukis (18-23, 6-8 MVC) added another run in the third and finished their scoring with a two-run home run by Scott Elmendorf in the sixth. Copeland pitched his fifth complete game of the season but was tagged with his fifth loss.
Jordan Sivertsen was one of four Salukis with two hits and drove in a game-high three runs. Elmendorf and Tyler Bullock finished the game with two RBI each.
Maines finished the game 2-for-3, the only other Redbird to have multiple hits. Maines, Menaker and Marty, the bottom of the order, had five of the Redbirds' six hits. The sweep marks the first time that the Redbirds have failed to win a game against a conference opponent this season.
Illinois State welcomes Illinois Wesleyan to Duffy Bass Field Wednesday for the Horenberger-Bass Classic at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday is Family Night at Duffy Bass Field with two adult and two youth ticket packages costing $8. The Redbirds then play Western Michigan Wednesday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field at 3 p.m.
