SIU baseball had their most important series of the season thus far as they played host to the Missouri State Bears, the Missouri ValleyConference preseason favorites.
The Dawgs were only able to take one of the three games for their first series loss of the conference part of the schedule.
The Salukis got the weekend started behind the arm of their ace, Alec Nigut. Nigut was chased from the game after surrendering 5 runs in 2 2/3 innings, 4 of which were driven in by Caden Bogenpohl, and took the loss.
Advertisement
Cole Koonce and Blaine Harpenau were also hit hard with Koonce being saddled with 5 runs in his 2 1/3 and Harpenau with 2 in his singular inning of work.
As a team, the Bears combined to leave the yard six times in the series opener, including 2 off the bat of Max Knight.
The Saluki bats were stymied by Michael Yusypchuk. The right-hander went all 7 innings in the 12-1 Bears win with the only blemish coming on an RBI triple by Jaxon Holder.
Looking to right the ship, Meade Johnson got the ball for the second game, which came on Monday after storms forced the teams to play once Sunday and a doubleheader on Monday. Johnson went 4 2/3 innings and was credited with 4 runs. Sam Frizzi took the loss, giving up 4 in the 10th.
The Saluki pitchers had no answers for Nick Rodriguez who drove in 5 of Missouri State’s 9 runs off 2 home runs, a double and a sacrifice fly.
Jordan Bach and Matt Schark led the Saluki bats in game 2. Bach reached on three extra-base hits and came around to score 3 times. Schark pushed 3 of the 5 SIU runs across, including his 12th home run of the year, but they weren’t enough as the Dawgs suffered a 9-5 loss and fell to 0-2 in the series.
Needing to avoid being swept, Jackson Payne got the starting call and delivered 4 innings of work with the only damage coming in a 3-run 2nd. Gavan Wernsing took the next 4 innings and surrendered another 4 runs before Tyler Timmerman shut down the Bears for the next two innings, earning the extra-innings win.
Advertisement*
At the dish, Schark and Gabe Petrucelli drove in 1 run each and Tim Simay left the yard with a 2-run shot, but it was John Lemm who was the player of the game. Lemm hit two home runs in the series finale, a game-tying 3-run blast in the 7th and a walk-off solo shot in the 9th to win 8-7 and avoid being swept.
With a 1-2 record on the weekend, the Dawgs fell to 22-9 overall and 6-3 in conference play, matching the Illinois State Redbirds in second place. The Salukis will be back in action again on Tuesday to host rival SEMO before heading out to Terre Haute to take on the Sycamores of Indiana State over the weekend.
Sports Reporter Nick Pfannkuche can be reached at npfankuche@dailyegyptian.com. To stay up to date on all your southern Illinois news, be sure to follow The Daily Egyptian on Facebook and X @dailyegyptian.
Advertisement
