SIU baseball five relievers gave up six runs on six hits to fall to McNeese State, 8-4 Sunday.

The Dawgs fell behind in the fifth inning after sophomore pitcher Michael Baird walked the leadoff batter and gave up a single and suicide squeeze bunt in his last inning of work. Senior Colton Selvey would take over in the sixth and gave up two more runs to push the deficit to 4-0.

In the bottom half of the seventh, freshman pitcher Mitch Townsend would make his SIU debut by giving up a two-run homer and two more runs afterwards, putting the Salukis in a deeper hole, down 8-0.

The following half inning, the Dawgs’ bats came alive when a bases-loaded double by sophomore infielder Logan Blackfan (1-3) plated two runs followed by a wild pitch and a single that would score two more. 

The Salukis (1-2) left a total of seven runners on base.

Baird took the loss after giving up two runs on two hits in five innings pitched. 

McNeese State (2-1) got a solid effort out of senior pitcher Ethan Stremmel, who shut the door on the Salukis’ offense for 5 1/3 innings for the win. He gave up no runs on 67 pitches and five strikeouts.

The Salukis will pay a brief visit to Austin Peay State at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Clarksville, Tenn., before returning to Carbondale for the home opener on Friday.

Ted Ward can be reached at [email protected] or 618-534-3303