A rough day for pitchers made life miserable for SIU baseball.

The Salukis gave up 16 hits Tuesday in a 13-6 loss to Austin Peay State.

Senior Bryce Sablotny (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up seven runs in four innings. Sablotny gave up two home runs and struck out two.

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The Salukis (1-3) took their only lead in the first inning on junior outfielder Jake Hand’s single following junior outfielder Ryan Smith’s double.

The fifth inning turned out to be the difference maker as Austin Peay scored three runs after a bases-loaded single off junior pitcher Austin McPheron and a sacrifice fly off redshirt junior Jacob Williams.

A three-run homer from sophomore infielder Hunter Anderson shrunk the Governor’s lead to 10-6, but the Dawgs would not get closer. SIU left 12 runners on base. Anderson went 3-5 with three runs batted in to lead the Salukis.

Austin Peay’s Joe Rye (1-0) pitched three innings in the win, but gave up two runs on six hits and struck out five.

Two more freshmen made their debuts for SIU as pitcher Seth Hackett and infielder Jared Schmidt saw action in the loss. With their debuts, every true freshman on the roster has seen the field this season.

The Salukis hit the diamond again in the home opener against Western Illinois 2 p.m. Friday at Itchy Jones Stadium.

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

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