Despite junior pitcher Derek Fogel pitching seven scoreless innings, the University of Illinois overcame the Salukis in extra innings.

The Salukis faced off against the Fighting Illini Monday night at Marion’s Rent One Park. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, but it was moved to Monday because of thunderstorms.

Despite the venue change, Fogel said the park didn’t affect the game much.

“You try and come in like it is any other game,” he said. “The turf field was a little frustrating, and the mound was a little slippery, but other than that there wasn’t much of a difference from playing at Abe Martin.”

This was Fogel’s third start of the year. He pitched a seven-inning shutout, allowed six hits and struck out four batters in a no-decision loss. Illinois sophomore starting pitcher John Kravetz pitched a no-decision when he struck out four batters and allowed three hits as well as two runs in six innings.

Although the Salukis couldn’t pull out the win, Fogel said he was pleased with his Monday performance.

“It was a defensive duel and a tough offensive day,” he said. “That’s baseball, though. You have to keep going out and giving your team a chance to do well. I felt good for the first time in a while.”

The Salukis started to score in the bottom of the fourth inning, when junior second baseman Jake Welch doubled to right field. In the next at bat, Saluki junior catcher Matt Jones singled to center field to put a runner on first and second base. Senior right fielder Austin Montgomery hit a double play to allow Welch to score. Junior first baseman Ryan Casillas flied out to right field to finish the inning with a 1-0 Saluki lead.

The Illini tied the game in the top of the eighth inning, when freshman pinch hitter Ryan Nagel singled to the fiield’s right side and allowed freshman second baseman Adam Walton to score the game-tying run.

The Salukis failed to score in the next two innings and forced the game into extra innings. The Illini started the 10th inning hot when senior infielder Brandon Hohl singled to the shortstop. Freshman catcher Jason Goldstein hit a sacrifice bunt during the next at-bat to advance Hohl to second base. SIU senior relief pitcher Todd Eaton then threw a wild pitch and Hohl advanced to third, and sophomore infielder Michael Hurwitz then singled to left field so Hohl could score the game-winning run.

Although the Salukis struggled with offense with only two hits, SIU coach Ken Henderson said he is optimistic for team improvement.

“For everyone I’m going to make adjustments, it’s a mental problem of trying to do too much,” he said. “They are swinging hard and thinking ‘I’m going to crush this ball.’ That transitions into a a terrible swing, and that’s why we are fouling balls we should be putting in play.”

The Salukis’ next game will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday against Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.