May 13, 2011
Final Stats
Post-Game Interview
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
A late Illinois State comeback attempt came up short in a 4-2 Missouri Valley Conference loss at Southern Illinois, which was delayed 90 minutes because of lighting, Friday afternoon. With the loss, the Redbirds (29-16, 8-8 MVC) fell a game behind the Salukis (19-29, 9-7 MVC) in the middle of the league standings.
Corey Maines (8-3) suffered the loss after pitching 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, while Cody Forsythe notched the victory (8-3), shutting out the Redbirds through 6.0 innings of work. Ryan Court highlighted ISU's offense with a 3-for-4 effort, while Dustin Huff paced the Salukis with two runs and one RBI in a 2-for-3 performance.
"There were two good starting pitchers in today's game," Redbird head coach Mark Kingston said. "Corey battled, but their guy was a little better. They also got one more big hit than we did. This loss was disappointing, and we just have to be better tomorrow."
The Salukis scored their first run in the second inning on a solo home run to left-center field by Jordan Sivertson, giving SIU a 1-0 lead. Southern Illinois added to its lead with two more runs in the fifth inning. Blake Pinnon led off the frame with a base hit, and advanced to second on a Wes Neece sacrifice bunt. A double by Huff drove in Pinnon, and Huff moved to third as Chris Murphy reached on a fielding error charged to Kevin Tokarski. A lineout to right field by Jake Welch allowed Huff to score, increasing SIU's lead to 3-0.
The game was suspended in the bottom of the sixth inning due to lightning. Several nearby lightning strikes forced a 90-minute delay, although little rain fell during the interruption at Abe Martin Field.
Once play resumed, each team replaced its starting pitcher. Justin Hauer came in for Maines, while Todd Eaton took over for Forsythe. Southern Illinois added to its lead in the seventh inning with a two-out single by Austin Montgomery that plated Huff.
Illinois State attempted to come back in the top of the seventh, as Matt Mirabal and Mike Hollenbeck both reached on walks to start things off. Each of the two runners then advance on a balk charged to SIU's Brad Drust. Pinch hitter Mark Menaker then drove home Mirabal with a sacrifice fly. With David Fallon at bat, Hollenbeck scored the Redbirds' second run on a wild pitch.
After shutting out SIU in the bottom of the eighth, singles by Tokarski and Tyler McNeely allowed the potential go-ahead run to come to the plate. However with Tokarski and McNeely on base, Josh Colon struck out, and Mirabal flied out to deep left field to end the game, just missing a home run.
The Redbirds and Salukis play game two of the three-game series Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. ISU's Dan Savas (3-4) will face SIU's Cameron Maldonado (3-7).
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