Game 1 Box Score (HTML)
Game 2 Box Score (HTML)
CARBONDALE, Ill.—The Southern Illinois baseball team rode strong pitching from starters Cody Adams and Shawn Joy on Friday and consistent two-out hitting to sweep a doubleheader from the visiting University of Evansville Purple Aces by scores of 8-2 and 7-2.
Southern Illinois took the opener, 8-2, behind seven two-out runs. The Salukis converted on seven of 19 RBI opportunities in the opener, while UE went just 1-for-11 in RBI situations. Newburgh native and former Castle High School standout Scott Elmendorf and junior catcher Mark Kelly both had four-hit efforts, with Elmendorf driving in three runs and scoring another tally.
Evansville was able to scratch across single runs in the second and fifth innings of the opener on an RBI ground out by junior third baseman Peter Tountas and a pinch-hit RBI single by freshman Brian Robinson, but those would be the only runs Adams (5-4) would allow in 7.0 innings on the mound. Adams struck out six against three walks and nine base hits.
In the nightcap, Southern Illinois was able to snap a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning with a pair of two-out runs, and then exploded for four runs in the eighth inning to grab a 7-1 lead. A two-out RBI double by shortstop Owen Mackedon and an RBI single by Chris Murphy would plate the two runs in the key seventh inning.
Tountas would launch his fifth home run of the year, a solo shot to center field in the ninth inning, to trim the lead to 7-2, but Joy was able to work out of a two-out, two-on jam to finish the complete-game victory. Joy (6-2) yielded just two runs on 11 base hits, while striking out four. The late offense spoiled a strong outing by UE freshman starter Zach Taylor (2-6), who gave up three runs (two earned) on just five base hits in 6.2 innings of work.
“I thought that Zach Taylor did a great job for us on the mound in game two,” said UE head coach David Seifert. “He was able to spot three different pitches for strikes, and was able to work ahead in the count, and I thought that he pitched well enough to win today.
“Hopefully, we can bounce back tomorrow behind John Foley and pick up a victory to end the season. It would be important for this team to end the year on a high note and take a good feeling into the off-season.”
With the doubleheader sweep, Southern Illinois improves to 31-21 overall and 11-12 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville, meanwhile, slips to 14-41 overall and 4-19 in the Valley. UE will conclude the 2008 season on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. against Southern Illinois in a game that can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.
