May 13, 2008

Box Score

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Tyler Lairson delivered a walk-off double with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Southern Illinois University (29-21) a 2-1 win over Saint Louis (23-27) earlier tonight in a wood bat game at GCS Ballpark.

Mark Kelly started SIU's final at-bat with a single to left and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Bret Maugeri struck out looking, Lairson slugged a double off the base of the wall in left to clinch the win.

SIU posted its third win in extra innings this season.

The Salukis pulled ahead, 1-0, when Adam Hills singled, went to third on Kelly's base hit to right center and scored when Aaron Roberts hit into a fielder's choice.

SIU held that lead until the ninth inning, where pinch-hitter Mike Beal ripped a leadoff double down the left field line off Saluki reliever Tyler Choate. Beal advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Ramee Yacoub to tie the game at 1-1.

Ian Reinhart (3-0) was credited with the win after tossing one scoreless inning.

Billiken ace Scott Turmail (6-6) suffered the loss. Turmail allowed two hits and one run in 2.2 innings.

SIU righthander Daniel Etienne threw three shutout innings before giving way to Choate in the ninth.

Offensively, Kelly went 4-for-5 with a run scored to lead SIU which finished with eight hits on the night. Kelly hit safely in each of his last four at-bats of the game.

SLU had nine hits and left 11 runners on base.

SIU won its sixth-straight wood bat game against the Billikens.

SIU concludes its regular-season at home against Evansville. The Salukis and Purple Aces open a three-game series Thursday at 3 p.m., CST.