Box Score May 15, 2011
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE defeated Eastern Illinois 5-3 Sunday afternoon to sweep a three-game baseball series at Simmons Baseball Complex. The win moved the Cougars to 24-24 on the season.
SIUE has won four in a row and five of its last six games. It is the third three-game sweep of the year for the Cougars against Ohio Valley Conference opponents. SIUE is now 12-4 against OVC opponents this year.
"Today was just a day that we got to .500," SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins said. "That is what we are most happy about."
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run without a hit in the first inning. Travis Becherer reached on a throwing error with one out then scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Devin Caldwell.
Eastern Illinois, 17-30, answered with a run in the second on three hits against SIUE starter Spencer Patton. Nick Priessman singled to drive in the run for the Panthers. Priessman was 2 for 3 with the RBI.
The Cougars came back with two runs in the second. SIUE took advantage of a pair of EIU errors to plate the two unearned runs. James Vazquez reached on an infield hit to drive home a run in the inning. Mitch Matecki tripled to lead off the third inning. Caldwell made it 4-1 Cougars with a sacrifice fly to right.
Vazquez was 1 for 3 with the RBI. Caldwell was 0 for 2 with the pair of RBIs. He now leads the team with 51 for the season.
The Panthers cut the lead to 4-3 with two runs on a hit in the sixth inning.
Patton tossed six innings to move to 8-3 with the win. He allowed three runs on seven hits. Patton struck out four and now has 100 strikeouts for the season. He is just the fourth pitcher in school history to record 100 or more strikeouts in a single season.
"It wasn't one of his better outings, but it was good enough," Collins said of his starter.
Ryan Daniels and Thad Hawkins combined to retire the final nine EIU hitters Sunday afternoon. Daniels toosed a perfect eighth inning, while Hawkins tossed the final two innings to pick up his sixth save of the season. Hawkins struck out two.
"After a rough start, the bullpen has been pretty darn good," Collins added.
Brett Keeler added a sacrifice fly in the sixth for the final margin. Zach Hawkins scored on the play after he doubled to start the inning. Zach Hawkins finished 2 for 4 to lead the Cougars, who finished with just six hits.
The win came on senior day at SIUE. Priotr to the game, SIUE recognized senior pitchers Patton, Josh Malin and Kyle Dodson.
SIUE hosts Evansville in a single game Tuesday night. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
