In a three-game series against Creighton University, the Salukis stranded 29 runners on base and allowed 18 runs to drop a three-game conference series during the weekend.

The Salukis traveled to Omaha, Neb., to face the Bluejays. Creighton’s sweep gives the Salukis a 18-21 record after the weekend series.

Senior pitcher Cody Forsythe received the Friday start against CU freshman pitcher Tommy Strunc. Forsythe struck out three batters, allowed four runs in six innings and received the loss to move to 1-3 on the season. Strunc pitched eight innings, allowed one run and struck out eight batters to win his fifth game of the year.

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Creighton grabbed the game’s first run in the bottom of the second inning, when sophomore catcher Kevin Lamb hit a single to left field to score sophomore infielder Landon Lucansky.

The Bluejays continued pouring in the offense into the bottom of the third inning when sophomore relief pitcher and second baseman Jake Peter and junior infielder Federico Castagnini scored as senior infielder Alex Staehely hit a home run to left field to take a 3-0 lead.

The Salukis attempted a rally in the top of the ninth inning, but they fell just one run short of tying the game.

All three runs came from senior outfielder Austin Montgomery, who hit a three-run homer to left field with senior outfielder Rennie Troggio and junior catcher Matt Jones on base. The Salukis threatened to score more runs, but Peter halted the rally after he forced junior infielder Cody Daily to hit the game-ending pop up.

Head coach Ken Henderson said SIU’s offensive effort must drastically improve.

“We had bad approaches at the plate,” he said. “We tried to do too much for the first time in about three weeks, and we just didn’t take good swings. (Strunc) did a good job, but we didn’t do a good job making adjustments at the plate.”

Junior pitcher Derek Fogel started Saturday’s game against CU senior pitcher Nick Musec. Fogel allowed five runs off of eight hits and struck out one batter in four innings and earned his second loss of the year. Musec won his first game of the season as he struck out five batters and allowed two runs in five innings.

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Henderson said Fogel pitched well throughout the game, but the junior pitcher needs to keep calm during the earlier innings.

“He was OK once he settled in,” he said. “Both times we scored, he went back out and gave up runs. That’s when you need zeros, but after a rocky start, I feel like he kept us in the game.”

Junior infielder Jake Welch scored the game’s first run in the top of the first inning when he reached first base after a single up the middle. Welch scored after Montgomery singled to the left side to take a 1-0 lead over the Bluejays.

Creighton didn’t wait to respond to the Salukis’ first run, as the Bluejays scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning after Staehely, Castagnini and junior outfielder Mike Gerber all scored to lead 3-1. The Bluejays added another run in the bottom of the second inning, when junior catcher Jerry Mitchell scored off of Castagnini’s sacrifice fly to right field.

Welch added two more Saluki runs in the top of the fifth and seventh innings, but SIU lost the game 5-3 and moved to 18-20 on the season.

Sunday’s final matchup was featured on ESPNU, a branch of ESPN directed toward college athletics. The Salukis’ struggles continued into Sunday’s game as they lost 9-1 to move to 2-10 in conference play.

Sophomore pitcher Sam Coonrod threw against CU freshman pitcher Austin Groth. Coonrod lasted just two innings and allowed four runs on six hits to earn his third loss of the season. Groth struck out two batters and allowed one run in three innings.

Creighton’s first inning was the team’s biggest offensive inning Sunday when they scored four runs off four hits. Bluejay junior outfielder Brad McKewon, Peter, junior outfielder Mike Gerber and freshman infielder Reagan Fowler all scored in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead over the Salukis.

The Salukis saw their only run when Cody Daily scored off of junior shortstop Ryan Rosthenhausler’s fourth-inning single up the middle to bring the Salukis closer at 4-1.

After Daily’s score, the Bluejays scored five unanswered runs to finish the game 9-1.

Henderson said the Salukis need to work on winning close games.

“We need to play well and try to find a way to come out of here with a win,” he said. “We’ve been in both games and had opportunities to win both games. We need to figure out a way to get it done.”

The Salukis will return to the diamond to face off against Southeastern Missouri State University at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Abe Martin Field.

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