Jacks win series at Edwardsville

Saturday, March 17

Edwardsville, Ill.

1:00 PM

South Dakota State University

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville

3/18/2012 7:40:00 PM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - South Dakota State hung on to win a suspended game, 11-8, to open the day, then dropped a 4-2 decision later Sunday to complete an abbreviated three-game series at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

The Jackrabbits, who won two of the three games in the series, moved to 4-10-1 overall. SIUE ended the day 9-10 overall. SDSU's victory Sunday was the 600^th of Jackrabbit head coach Dave Schrage's career.

In the opener, SDSU scored all of its runs prior to the game being suspended Saturday after four innings due to rain. Andrew Melton opened the scoring with a run-scoring single in the second inning, and the Jackrabbits erupted for seven runs against SIUE starter Brooks McDowell in the top of the third to take an 8-1 lead. Andrew Phelan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to plate the first run, followed by a Phil Paquette two-run single up the middle. Aaron Machbitz and Zach Rhodes each drove in runs before Daniel Marra capped the big inning with a two-run double to the left-center gap.

The Cougars countered with three runs in the home half of the third, but the Jackrabbits put the game out of reach with a three-run fourth. Paquette doubled in the first run, with Machbitz adding a run-scoring single and Melton a sacrifice fly.

When play resumed Sunday, SIUE scored three runs in the top of the fifth against Jackrabbit reliever Austin Busse, starting with a leadoff home run by Joel Greatting.

Busse was credited with the victory after pitching three innings. Shane Kraemer recorded two strikeouts in the final two innings to pick up his first save of the season.

Freshman Adam Bray started for the Jackrabbits, allowing four runs, seven hits and a walk in four innings. The right-hander struck out two.

Paquette was 3-for-4 with three runs batted in to lead SDSU's 15-hit attack. Rhodes, Marra, Eric Cain, Machbitz and Melton each tallied two hits.

In the finale, the Jackrabbits jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Steven Autenrieth led off with an infield single, moved to second on a walk to Zach Rhodes and later scored on a groundout. Eric Cain plated Andrew Melton with the final run of the frame with a base hit.

SIUE tied the game in the home half of the inning against Jackrabbit starter Layne Somsen and took the lead in the fourth as Brett Keeler walked with two outs, moved to third on a double by Chase Green and scored on a wild pitch.

The Cougars tacked on a run in the seventh, and ended three potential SDSU rallies with double plays.

SIUE starter Travis Felax struck out four and walked two in seven innings, while allowing six hits. Dustin Quattrocchi retired all six batters he faced to earn his fourth save of the season.

Somsen allowed only two hits in six innings, but surrendered seven walks to go along with two strikeouts.

Paquette again led the Jackrabbits at the plate with two of the team's six hits, including a triple.

The Jackrabbits return to action with a four-game series at Northern Colorado March 23-25.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 11, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS-EDWARDSVILLE 8
SDSU 017 300 000 11-15-2
SIUE 013 030 100 8-14-0
SDSU: Adam Bray, Austin Busse (5), Shane Kraemer (8) and Zach Briggs. SIUE: Brooks McDowell, Dylan Brown (3), Josh Hoguet (5) and Brett Keeler.
W-Busse (2-0). L-McDowell (0-1). Save-Kraemer (1).
HR: SIUE-Joel Greatting (2).

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS-EDWARDSVILLE 4, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 2
SDSU 002 000 000 2-6-1
SIUE 002 100 10X 4-5-0
SDSU: Layne Somsen, Ty Walker (7), Talon Jumper (7) and Steven Autenrieth, Nick Andrews. SIUE: Travis Felax, Dustin Quattrocchi (8) and Brett Keeler.
W-Felax (4-1). L-Somsen (0-2). Save-Quattrocchi (4).
HR: none.