A Higher Glyphic

As a historic Saluki basketball season came to a close, SIU baseball season is in full swing.Over the weekend the Salukis took on the Illinois State University Redbirds and completed their first sweep of the team in 17 years.

At Friday's game, SIU outscored the Redbirds 6-3 with Senior Jordan Powell pitching five innings and only giving up three runs on five hits.

Senior Kyle Catto came in to relieve Powell in the 6th inning after Redbird Ryan Anetsberger led off with a homerun into left field and threw twelve pitches.

Freshman Bryant George got the save in the ninth inning when he came in to pitch a one-two-three inning.

At the plate, the Salukis scored five runs on five hits in the second inning. Center fielder Aaron Roberts went 3 for 5, hitting 1 RBI and scoring 2 runs. Catcher Mark Kelly and short stop Michael Finigan both batted a thousand hitting 4 for 4 and 3 for 3, respectively.

On Saturday, SIU won their second game of the three game series against ISU scoring five runs on five hits, thanks to Mark Kelly who batted 3 for 4, scoring one run and left fielder Dean Cadematori went 2 for 3 at the plate.

Cadematori's three-run blast was his fourth of the season and gave the Salukis a 4-1 lead. On the mound, Sophomore Cody Allen pitched his first complete game allowing six hits and three runs.

The game did not go without controversy; ISU's Anetsberger and pitching coach Tim Brownlee were ejected from the game after Anetsberger hit a shot into left field was ruled as a foul ball.

The Salukis came alive late in the last game of the three game series to sweep the Redbirds. SIU scored five runs in the eighth inning putting them ahead 9-3. Kelly's batting average reached .481 after going 2 for 5 and getting three RBI's.

Other standout players at the plate were designated hitter, Kevin Koskie who went 1 for 3 with one RBI, center fielder Aaron Roberts who went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and right fielder Adam Hills who went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

Left hander Shawn Joy pitched seventh innings striking out seven hitters and allowing three runs on six hits. ISU's Ryan Anetsberger batted in all four of the Redbirds runs, one of which was a homerun.