After a month and a half of SIU Baseball, the Salukis played their first home Missouri Valley Conference series of the season at Itchy Jones Stadium. The three-game slate from April 3-5 featured a matchup against the Illinois State University Redbirds. Dominant pitching performances and strong run production propelled the Salukis to a 2-1 series victory over the Redbirds.
APRIL 3: SIU 4, ISU 3
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Pitcher Andrew Evans got the start for the Salukis. The hulking right-hander, who has been dominant all year, sent down the Redbirds in just eight pitches to begin the game.
The Dawgs found offensive success in the second inning, started by a single and a walk with one out. Centerfielder Jackson Dibble and first baseman Kaleb Hall executed a double steal, putting runners in prime scoring position. Shortstop Henry Kufa drove in Hall with a single up the middle, and Dibble crossed home due to an error on the play.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Redbirds cashed in their first run of the game on a walk followed by a passed ball and a wild pitch.
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Right fielder Kye Watson laced a double down the left field line to kick off the bottom of the fifth inning. After a groundout that put Watson on third, third baseman Cecil Lofton drove in the run with an RBI sacrifice fly, and the Dawgs were up 3-1.
After an eight-pitch at-bat in the eighth inning, Andrew Evans sent down his last batter of the night with his eleventh strikeout of the night, marking a career high. He concluded his night after throwing an astonishing 117 pitches, matching his season-high.
“I felt great out there,” Evans said. “Everything was working for me.”
Following Evans’ emphatic finish, Lofton came up and drilled a ball over the right field fence, taking the outfielder’s glove with it. The much-needed insurance run put the Salukis on top 4-1 going into the ninth inning.
Despite a shaky top of the ninth inning for pitcher Jack MacIntosh, the fiery closer shut down the Redbirds before they could potentially tie, and the Salukis took a 4-3 victory.
APRIL 4: SIU 9, ISU 1
Looking to complete their first MVC series victory, the Salukis sent out Troy Shepard to face the Redbirds for game two. The crafty pitcher made it to the third inning before surrendering a hit, and the baserunner was left stranded.
The Salukis could not tally a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning, where designated hitter Tim Simay knocked one through the left side for a single.
The Redbirds scored the first run of the game on a long home run in the top of the fifth inning.
Left fielder Kaleb Hall came through with a single to begin SIU’s half of the sixth inning. Kufa stepped up and drilled a ball over the left field wall, and the Salukis were up 2-1. This home run was Kufa’s first as a Saluki.
After adding another run on an ISU error, Watson and catcher Mason Schwalbach each drew RBI walks, upping the SIU lead to 5-1 after six innings.
After two more runs on an error and a wild pitch, Lofton came up and knocked in another run via sacrifice fly, and the Dawgs took a commanding 9-1 lead.
The score remained the same for the rest of the contest, and the Salukis secured a series victory in the second game.
APRIL 5: ISU 10, SIU 4
The Salukis gave pitcher Meade Johnson the ball to begin the final game of the series against the Redbirds on Sunday. Johnson ran into some early trouble, surrendering two runs on a pair of ISU doubles in the first inning.
The Dawgs got a baserunner on in each of the first three innings, but could not drive them home.
The Redbirds extended their lead to 6-0 in the top of the fourth inning with a pair of RBI singles and a two-run homer.
Simay drew a walk for the Salukis, and second baseman Gabe Petrucelli singled to begin the bottom of the fourth inning. Facing two outs, Kufa came up clutch once more with a two-run double lined into the left-centerfield gap.
The Redbirds’ offense continued to click in the fifth inning, putting up an impressive four runs on six hits.
Neither team could push across any runs until the bottom of the seventh inning, when Saluki left fielder Kristian Sprawling notched an RBI single.
Bryce Habuda pinch hit for Flores in the bottom of the ninth, and singled through the right side, giving the Salukis their fourth run of the game. The opportunity for more runs was squandered, and the Salukis dropped the third game of the series 10-4.
With this series victory, the Salukis improve to 12-18 overall and 3-3 in conference. The Redbirds fall to 20-12 overall and 5-4 in MVC games. Coverage of the Salukis final game of this homestand against the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State University on April 7 can be found on the Daily Egyptian website.
Sports Reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at [email protected]
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