Editor’s Note: The game versus NDSU scheduled for Wednesday, Mar. 4, has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
The Salukis were in prime scoring position with two runners on and only one out in the eighth inning. First Baseman Cecil Lofton came up and drilled a ball over the left field fence for a three-run homerun, and gave SIU a 9-4 lead over the Bison.
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Coming off a series victory over Seton Hall, the Salukis were ready to take on another home non-conference matchup. This time, the Bison herded and traveled from North Dakota State University to Itchy Jones Stadium for a Tuesday afternoon contest.
Pitcher Alec Ammerman got the nod for the Dawgs and gave up a couple of hits that led to a run in the top of the first.
The Salukis responded to the trouble immediately as they sent eight batters to the plate and tallied three runs. Bases-loaded RBI singles by centerfielder Julio Guerrero and left fielder Kaleb Hall gave the Dawgs a lead. Designated hitter Michael Mylott capped off the inning with an RBI sacrifice fly, and the Salukis were in business.
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The Bison plated another run in the top of the second via a groundout, but SIU still had the lead.
After hits from catcher Xavier Farnum and shortstop Tim Simay, Lofton came up in the bottom of the fourth and gave the Salukis a 4-2 lead on a sacrifice fly.
After a wild sequence featuring an error, the Bison tacked on two runs, knotting the game at 4-4. The resilient Salukis retaliated instantly with an RBI single off the bat of third baseman Jaden Flores, scoring Mylott.
A single and an error on a stolen base placed second baseman Henry Kufa on third. Guerrero stepped up and delivered another RBI single, which gave SIU another two-run lead.
The relievers did their part and did not allow any runs after the fifth inning. With the opposing offense not scoring, a three-run homer off the bat of Lofton put an exclamation point on the game and his productive performance.
A clean ninth inning from pitchers Jack Macintosh and Matt Irvine sealed the deal, and the Dawgs walked away with a 9-4 victory over the Bison.
With this victory, SIU is now 4-7 and NDSU falls to 1-11. The Salukis are back in action on March 6-8 in the Cambria Classic Tournament in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Sports Reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at [email protected]
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