May 17, 2007

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Both teams dueled for three hours and thirty-one minutes before Josh Abercrombie's walk-off double in the 11th inning gave Indiana State University (26-24, 7-15) a 6-5 win over Southern Illinois (32-20, 11-11) earlier tonight at Sycamore Field.

You would have thought Christmas came early for the Dawgs if you were a spectator at tonight's debacle.

INS pitchers issued 10 walks, gave up 12 hits, put SIU's leadoff man on base in seven innings and handed the Salukis one-out bases loaded chances in back-to-back innings.

But, SIU failed to capitalize time after time again.

SIU trailed, 5-4, when INS first baseman Casey Martin scooped up Dean Cademartori's slow roller with the bases full of Salukis in the ninth. Instead of throwing home for an easy force, Martin went to second in attempt to turn an inning-ending double play.

Martin's fielding blunder enabled Scott Elemendorf to tie the game. SIU had a chance to take the lead later in the inning, but Michael Finigan struck out looking, leaving the go-ahead run at third.

INS served up another golden opportunity when it committed an error and allowed back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out in the 10th. This time, SIU came up empty after Elmendorf flied out and Bret Maugeri struck out looking.

After INS couldn't get a run in with the bases loaded in the 10th, the Sycamores finally broke through in the 11th.

Ryan Stroausborger singled to right, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Abercrombie's double to seal the 6-5 win.

SIU left a season-high 16 runners on base, five of which came in the ninth and 10th innings.

The Salukis were in a three-run hole (4-1) early in the game after starting left-hander Shawn Joy surrendered a run in the second and three in the third.

SIU had INS on the ropes when it pulled to within a run in the sixth and the ninth, but couldn't deliver the knock out punch.

Bryant George (3-1) took the fall on the mound for SIU. He gave up four hits, struck out two and allowed the game's final run in 2.1 innings.

Joy gave up 10 hits, five runs and struck out five in seven innings prior to giving way to the Saluki bullpen in the eighth.

Adam Lindsay (4-5) was credited with the win. He scattered three hits, gave up a run and recorded four strikeouts in four innings of relief.

Mark Kelly went 3-for-5 to lead the Salukis at the plate.

The Salukis and Sycamores resume their series Friday at 5 p.m., CST. Cody Adams (10-4) will start on the mound for SIU.