SIU Baseball wrapped up a seven game homestand with a weekend series against the Knights of Bellarmine University. The Salukis took all three games in high scoring fashion, totaling 44 runs by the time the weekend was over. 

Jordan Huskey got the ball to start the Friday night game and delivered a solid 5 innings of work, surrendering 3 runs and striking out 9 Knights, earning a win for his work. Jackson Payne picked up the last two innings, giving up 4.

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Matt Schark was the star of the show for game one, going 3-5 with a home run, driving in 4 and scoring three times. Kristian Sprawling and Mason Schwalbach also had big contributions, each finishing with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. John Lemm’s single in the 7th put the Dawgs up 17-7 to run-rule Bellarmine and end the game early.

Alec Nigut was on the bump for the Saturday matchup, tossing 5 innings of two run ball. Gavan Wernsing picked up a scoreless 6th and Matt Irvine got the ball for the 7th.

Schark had another big day with 4 more RBIs, all coming via a grand slam in the 6th. Sprawling chipped in with 3 runs driven in and Jaxon Holder walked in all four of his plate appearances, circling the bases three times. Tim Simay notched his first two home runs in Saluki maroon, including one to put the Dawgs up 13-3 in the 7th, as the Dawgs run-ruled the Knights for the second straight day.

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Meade Johnson was the starting pitcher for SIU in the series finale and tossed 6 scoreless innings before getting chased after giving up three straight singles to start the 7th. All three came around to score. Dylan Petrey earned the win after picking up the 8th and Sam Frizzi punched out the side in the 9th to get the save.

Jordan Bach came to play on Sunday, going 3-4 with a two-run home run and three runs scored and Schark drove in a run to bring his total on the weekend to nine. But it was Schwalbach who was the hero for the Salukis in their 14-10 win with a pinch hit grand slam to put the Dawgs up one in the 8th. Simay gave SIU some breathing room for the top of the 9th with a bases-clearing double.

With the three wins over the Knights, the Salukis stretched their win streak to 10 games and improved to 11-3 on the season. The Dawgs will be back in action on Tuesday as they face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on the road.

Sports Reporter Nick Pfannkuche can be reached at [email protected]. To stay up to date on all your southern Illinois news, be sure to follow The Daily Egyptian on Facebook.

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