Box Score Edwardsville, Ill. - Brandon Sarkissian recorded a game-ending strikeout with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth as Maryville defeated SIU Edwardsville 7-6 Wednesday night at Simmons Baseball Complex. The win was the Saints first over a Division I team since beating Penn State during the 1994 season.
The Cougars scored two runs in the bottom of the first but the Saints answered with two in the top of the third. Garrett Jones was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a Sean Murphy single. Mike Wilkinson drove in the Saints' first run as Maryville cut the lead in half. Corey Gall then lashed a single to left to forge a 2-2 tie. SIUE retook the lead in the home half of the third for a 3-2 edge.
Maryville tied it 3-3 in the top of the fifth when Kaleb Depew doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and touched home on a Jones RBI groundout. The Cougars struck for three runs in the bottom of the sixth as they had four hits and took advantage of a Saints fielding miscue.
The Saints responded with three runs in the top of the seventh. Maryville loaded the bases with two outs before Gall walked to force home Jones. Nick Stading had the big hit of the inning as he singled through the left side of the SIUE defense to score Murphy and Wilkinson to force a 6-6 deadlock.
The Saints manufactured the eventual game-winning run in the eighth. Mitch Carriger singled to leadoff the frame, and Brad Ridings worked a walk. On Depew's long fly out, Carriger tagged up and took third. The move proved to be key as he scored on a wild pitch to give the Saints a 7-6 lead.
The Cougars took advantage of a Maryville error and eventually loaded the bases in the ninth. Sarkissian, who entered the game with one out in the eighth inning, struck out SIUE's Chase Green to end the contest and pick up the win.
The Saints win their second straight and improve to 8-10, while the Cougars fall to 9-13.
