After dropping their eighth consecutive midweek matchup, the Dawgs shifted their focus to a three-game series on May 1-3 versus the Indiana State Sycamores. The Salukis looked to move up in the Missouri Valley Conference standings against a tough opponent. SIU nabbed the second game of the series, but the high-powered Sycamores’ offense propelled ISU to a 2-1 series victory. 

MAY 1: ISU 8, SIU 5

Pitcher Andrew Evans got the start for SIU on Friday evening. The righty got out of the first inning with no damage.

Left fielder Kristian Sprawling led off the game for the Salukis with an opposite-field home run, putting the Dawgs up early.

An ISU triple and RBI single tied the game in the top of the fourth inning. 

ISU added another run in the fifth inning with an RBI sacrifice fly, giving the opponents a 2-1 lead.

A hit by pitch, walk and bunt single loaded the bases for the Salukis in the bottom of the fifth. RBI groundouts from right fielder Kye Watson and centerfielder Julio Guerrero put SIU back on top. 

Pitcher Jack MacIntosh came in and struck out two en route to a scoreless sixth inning. 

First baseman Kaleb Hall and third baseman Jaden Flores hit back-to-back sacrifice flies, and the corner infielders upped the SIU lead to 5-2 after six.

A messy top of the eighth inning led the Sycamores to bat around the order and put up a crooked six runs. The offensive surge gave ISU a late 8-5 lead. 

The tying run was up to bat in the bottom of the ninth, but the Salukis failed to tie the game. The Sycamores took the first game 8-5. 

MAY 2: SIU 2, ISU 1

Left-handed pitcher Troy Shepard got the nod for SIU in Game 2. The dominant southpaw sent the Sycamores down in order in the first. 

Sprawling, after tallying four hits on Friday, knocked a leadoff single into right field. The speedy outfielder stole second base, but the Dawgs failed to cash in the runner.

A strikeout and two popouts made for a quick top of the second inning. 

The Sycamores’ pitching was dominant as well, sending down the Salukis without surrendering any early runs. 

The Sycamores broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning with an RBI sacrifice fly, but the Dawgs answered right back with a run-scoring double play in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Flores flashed the leather to keep the Sycamores from taking a lead in the sixth inning. The third baseman knocked down a scorched groundball and fired it across the diamond to end the top of the sixth.

With a runner on second base, shortstop Tim Simay blooped a ball into shallow centerfield and second baseman Gabe Petrucelli sprinted home, and the Dawgs took a 2-1 lead.

Meade Johnson took over for Shepard in the top of the eighth inning. The new arm sent down all six batters he faced, four via the strikeout, and the Salukis evened up the series with a 2-1 victory. 

MAY 3: ISU 14, SIU 3

Looking to snag a series victory, the Salukis sent out pitcher Charlie Miller to face the Sycamores on Sunday. The Dawgs let up four runs in the first inning after some defensive blunders and a barrage of ISU hits. 

The third inning had a very similar outcome to the first. An error and four hits plated four runs for the Sycamores, putting the away team up 8-0.

Pitcher Dylan Petrey came in and tossed 4.2 innings of one-run ball. 

Sprawling, continuing his dominant weekend, mashed a home run over the left field wall. The two-run shot cut the lead down to 8-2 in the fourth inning.

Petrucelli added another run in the bottom of the sixth with an infield single. 

A solo home run in the top of the seventh inning gave ISU a 9-3 lead.

A five-run top of the ninth inning for the Sycamores put the game out of reach, and the Sycamores finished the game with a 14-3 win.

With this series loss, SIU falls to 18-28 overall and 9-9 in conference play. The Sycamores improve to 26-21 and 12-6 in MVC games. The Salukis are back in action at Itchy Jones Stadium on May 5 versus the Knights of Bellarmine University. 

Sports Reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at [email protected]

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