Saluki baseball scored 13 runs in the final three innings to win Wednesday’s road matchup 16-9 against the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (7-10), improving to 8-10 on the year.

One day after Southern Illinois broke its four-game losing streak by beating UT Martin on Tuesday, it came back from multiple deficits on Wednesday to push the Salukis closer to the .500 mark.

The afternoon started rough for SIU, as starter Sam Replogle failed to record an out in his first start as a Saluki. Repogle hit the first batter he faced, and walked the next two before turning the ball over to Shane Wilhelm. All three came around to score, beginning what would be a 5-0 Eagles lead after two innings.

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After the two teams traded a run back and forth in the third, SIU managed to work its way back into a 6-6 tie in the seventh inning. Althogh the Eagles responded with a three-run bottom of the seventh, the Salukis cut into that lead with a two-run eighth, and took the lead for good with an eight-run ninth inning.

Pier-Olivier Boucher and Kaeber Rog each led the Salukis with three hits. Boucher launched a two-run home run during the team’s massive final frame, while Rog hit two doubles and scored four times.

Despite the rocky start, the Saluki bullpen held down the fort when they needed it most. Easton Dermody and Paul Bonzagni combined for three shutout innings while the offense came alive. Their performances on the mound made the comeback possible, as it became a blowout near the end.

Southern Illinois will head south to Booneville, Mississippi for a weekend series against the Illinois Fighting Illini (7-6). The series will be hosted by Northeast Mississippi Community College, being moved to a neutral site to avoid bad weather.

SIU beat Illinois in a three-game series last year in Carbondale, capped off by a walk-off home run by Ryan Rodriguez. This year’s matchup will be the final non conference weekend series for SIU before it moves into Valley play.

Staff reporter Brandyn Wilcoxen can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @BrandynWilcoxen.

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