March 15, 2005

Final Stats

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee State (8-5) left-hander Tyler Copeland allowed three hits and one unearned run in a 6-1 complete game win over Southern Illinois (10-7) earlier today at Reese Smith Field.

Copeland had just one strikeout on the day, but managed to hold SIU scoreless for eight innings, with the help of several fly ball outs. Also, nine Salukis reached base against Copeland, and only two made it past second.

Copeland seemed to be in trouble on just two occasions, but used back-to-back fly ball outs to escape each jam.

The Dawgs had runners on the corners with one out in the fifth, before Dean Cademartori popped up to short and Hunter Harrigan flied out to right.

In the eighth, SIU had the bases loaded with one out, but only came away with an unearned run, as Chris McCulloch scored on a one-out sacrifice fly by Kevin Koski. Shortly after Koski's out, Copeland got P.J. Finigan to fly out to center to end the inning.

After giving Copeland a 1-0 lead in the fourth, the Blue Raider offense erupted for five runs. Four of which came via the long ball.

Chase Eakes hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run sixth, before Michael McKenry and Jeff Beachum hit back-to-back bombs in the seventh.

Copeland improved to 2-0 on the season, as he also issued three walks in his complete game gem.

Meanwhile, Saluki starter Bryan Rueger fell to 2-2.

Also a southpaw, Rueger posted a career-high seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings, including five over his first three frames. Rueger, however, struggled in the sixth and seventh, where he allowed five runs on five hits.

MTSU finished with 10 hits on the day, while SIU had a season-low of three.

SIU and MTSU play again Wednesday (3 p.m.), as senior right-hander Jason Chavez (2-2) is expected to take the mound for the Dawgs.

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