The Salukis pushed their record in extra inning games to 3-3 on the season after junior infielder Jake Welch scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning over Belmont University.

The SIU baseball team hosted the Bruins in Carbondale on Wednesday after losing 11-7 Tuesday to the University of Illinois in Champaign. The Salukis started junior Aaron Snyder on the mound against Belmont’s freshman pitcher Jordan Deal. Snyder went four innings, struck out three batters and allowed no earned runs. SIU junior relief pitcher Todd Eaton grabbed the win after he struck out four batters and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.

SIU head coach Ken Henderson said the pitching staff provided the highlight of the day.

“To get four tremendous innings out of (Snyder) was great,” he said. “All day long we pitched well, and every one of our guys was great. To only give up three hits and one run, I can’t say enough about how well we pitched.”

Senior infielder Austin Montgomery said Eaton is a pitcher the Salukis have counted on all year.

“It’s a big confidence booster knowing that we can rely on him,” he said. “He can put us on his back and get us through certain innings at the end.”

Belmont scored first in the top of the sixth. With two outs, senior infielder Jared Breen hit a ball down the left field line to reach second base. In the next at-bat, senior infielder Judah Akers hit a single up the middle to allow Breen to score from second and Belmont took the 1-0 lead.

The Salukis evened the score in the bottom of the seventh after a series of hits allowed the Salukis to scratch across a run. SIU senior infielder Derek Trovillion reached first base on a single, then advanced to second base after a wild pitch. Then senior outfielder Nick Johnson hit a ball to the left side of the infield and Trovillion advanced to third base. In the next at-bat, Trovillion scored as senior outfielder Brock Harding hit a sacrifice ball to tie the game 1-1 after the seventh inning.

In the top of the ninth inning, Eaton came in relief for SIU junior pitcher Tyler Dray. Dray pitched two scoreless innings as mid-relief for the Salukis and faced six batters before he was taken out. Eaton’s toughest test came in the top of the 10th  when Belmont had the bases loaded with only one out. Eaton got Breen to hit into a fielder’s choice then struck out Akers to end the inning.

Henderson said Eaton’s pitching in the tenth inning was what saved the game for SIU.

“To get in that jam on the two bunts and two pitches out of it, my goodness that was a great effort,” he said.

Welch hit a single up the middle to reach first base in the 10th, and in the next at-bat senior pitcher Dan Huenecke walked junior catcher Matt Jones to put two runners on base. Then, for his third hit of the game, senior infielder Austin Montgomery ripped a low ball past BU sophomore second baseman Scott Moses to allow Welch to score from third base and win the game 2-1.

Welch has provided a much-needed spark to the offense this year and he said the key is getting on base.

“I just try and get one base really,” he said. “I know the guys behind me are good hitters, and sometimes I steal a base here and there and I get in scoring position.”

Montgomery said he had doubts about his 10th inning hit.

“I actually didn’t think I had that one,” he said. “It looked like I hit it right at him, and then it started tailing a little bit and snuck by him (Moses).”

The Salukis are now 8-8 in games decided by one run.

SIU travels to Purdue University this weekend to play a three-game series against the Boilermakers. The series runs  from May 3-5.

Jack Robinson can be reached at [email protected] or 536-3311 ext.269