Southern Illinois sophomore right-hander Michael Baird was three outs away from the Salukis’ first no-hitter since 1979 — but an Illinois batter ended his chance at history.

Although he allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, he finished the game with SIU’s (12-7-1) first complete-game shutout in nearly four years in a 1-0 win against Illinois (7-10) on Sunday.

“I didn’t really notice until my sixth inning that I had a shot at [a no-hitter],” Baird said. “I was just thinking ‘If it’s God’s will for me to throw a no-hitter, then let it be.'”

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Freshman pinch-hitter Jack Yalowitz hit a 3-1 slider to center field for a single, ending Baird’s bid to become the first Saluki to throw a no-no since Paul Evans’ 7-inning goose egg against SIU-Edwardsville on April 15, 1979.

Baird (3-1, 1.30 ERA) did earn his first career complete-game shutout, and SIU’s first since Cody Forsythe’s against Creighton on April 21, 2012.

“[Baird was] good,” sophomore catcher Nick Hutchins said. “As he always is. He always feels like he’s on his game. His slider was unbelieveable.” 

Senior righty Andrew Mamlic (1-3, 3.81 ERA) took the loss for Illinois despite allowing no earned runs on two hits in seven innings.

The Dawgs scored the lone run of the game in the seventh without collecting a base hit. A hit by pitch, a fielder’s choice and two errors led to sophomore infielder Greg Lambert crossing the plate.

“Our offense was better in this game than two hits,” coach Ken Henderson said. “[Junior right fielder] Jake Hand may have had the most tough-luck day I’ve ever seen from a guy. He hit line drives all over the field, and they caught them. I thought we had more good swings than the scoreboard indicates.”

Sophomore Logan Blackfan’s second-inning double and junior third baseman Ryan Sabo’s third-inning single were SIU’s only two hits of the game.

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The win gives the Salukis as many victories this season as they finished the 2015 season with.

The Dawgs’ next game will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Itchy Jones Stadium against Memphis. 

Thomas Donley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3307