May 13, 2008
Box Score
SAUGET, Ill. - Saint Louis and Southern Illinois played extra innings and withstood a 40-minute rain delay before SIU's Tyler Lairson stroked a game-winning double with two outs in the bottom of the 11th, valuting the Salukis to a 2-1 victory over the Billikens in the annual wood bat classic at GCS Ballpark Tuesday night.
SLU dips to 23-27 with the loss, while Southern Illinois improves to 29-21.
With the game on the line in the top of the ninth, Saint Louis rallied to knot the score at one all to help propel the game in extra frames. Pinch hitter Mike Beal started the inning with a double down the left-field line, then was pinch-ran for by Brandon Parsons. After Ryan Bennett moved Parsons over to third with a sacrifice bunt, Ramee Yacoub ripped a single through the left side to plate Parsons and help send the game into extra innings.
But Southern Illinois managed to push across the winning run in the 11th. Mark Kelly singled off of David Blackwell, scoring Kelly and giving the Salukis the 2-1 victory.
Starters Zach Outman (SLU) and Andrew Dunn (SIU) held the opposition scoreless for the first five innings. SIU got on the board first when Aaron Roberts drove in Adam Hills on a fielder's choice. But that is all the scoring that would take place until SLU tied it up in the ninth.
The Billikens had chances early on, but they stranded the bases loaded in the third and fifth innings. In all, SLU left 11 runners on the base paths while SIU stranded 10.
Saint Louis stayed alive late in the ballgame thanks to several key defensive plays. In the eighth, Bennett made a dazzling snag on a high liner destined for the left-center field gap to save a hit. Tom Pinnell made a diving play to end the ninth inning, while Turmail snagged a hard liner back up the middle to end the 10th.
Yacoub, Pinnell and J.D. Dunn had two hits apiece for SLU, which out-hit the Salukis 9-8. Kelly led SIU with a 4-for-5 night at the plate. Ian Reinhart picked up the win for the Salukis after pitching a scoreless top of the 11th. Turmail was tagged with the loss after going 2-2/3 innings and allowing the one run on two hits.
The Billikens return to action on Thursday, when they host Temple for Senior Night at The Billiken Sports Center. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.
