CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. Dave Pohlman only had one hit, but it was a towering three-run blast that put the Salukis on top and back in the game.

The count was 2-0 and basically I was just trying to hit the ball the other way, the sophomore outfielder said. There were guys at second and third, and I was just trying to hit the ball into the outfield.

Pohlman’s homer came in the top of the third and put the Salukis up 4-2 against Southeast Missouri State University Wednesday.

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The Salukis went on to win 9-7 and are now 1-6. The Indians move to 2-6 with the loss.

Junior pitcher David Piazza got in some early trouble in the first inning and the Indians had a quick 2-0 lead.

The Indians led several times in the game, but the Salukis refused to give up.

Coach Dan Callahan said he was pleased with the way the team kept battling the Indians.

When you start the season 0-6, that can be demoralizing, Callahan said. We had a chance to win Sunday against Oklahoma State. Our guys were really down after the Sunday game. We did some things early, but we played well enough to win.

The Salukis led until the bottom of the fourth when first baseman David Sommerkamp and leftfielder Robert Kern hit back-to-back solo homers for the Indians.

But Marty Worsley’s two-run double in the top of the eighth was too much for the Indians as the Salukis took control of the game from that point.

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When you are 0-6, you’ll take it any way you can get it, Callahan said. We saw some things we didn’t necessarily like, but at the same time we hung in there. We got the clutch hit by Worsley in the eighth. Once again, you’ll take it any way you can. And we’ll take that.

Senior pitcher Chris Schullian recorded the Salukis’ first win and sophomore Jim Pecoraro recorded his first save.

Not everything was good news for the Salukis as junior pitcher Justin Kees was added to the list of injured players. He re-aggravated a groin injury he has been suffering during the last three weeks. He was only able to pitch two-thirds of an inning.

Callahan said because of all of the injuries, he was using the SEMO game as a chance for several pitchers to throw and would have liked to see Kees pitch a full inning.

We had it predetermined we were going to use five or six pitchers, Callahan said. We wanted to get some guys some work. Nobody was going to throw more than one or two innings.

The status of pitchers junior Jason Frasor and freshman Jason Mallory is still unknown. The two are out with sore elbows.

With all of the trouble with illnesses and injuries, getting the first win was a relief for the team.

It is nice to finally get a win, Pohlman said. The thing is, we shouldn’t have any trouble with these guys. We had to come back and win in a game we should have easily gone out and played good and got the win.

Factoid:The Salukis next play Eastern Illinois University at 11 a.m. Friday at Abe Martin Field.