The Salukis’ four-game winning streak was brought to a halt Wednesday in Jonesboro, Ark. as Arkansas State University (17-6) rallied late in the game to defeat the 10-11 Dawgs, 5-3.

Freshman pitcher Jason Frasor got the start for Southern, and pitched three shutout innings before giving way to a six other SIUC pitchers in order to save the team’s pitching arms for this weekend’s four-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Northern Iowa.

Unlike during its four-game winning streak, Southern’s offensive spurts came early in the game, and not in clutch, late-inning situations.

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In the second inning, junior second baseman Jay Mansavage and senior catcher Tim Kratochvil each singled, and scored on junior outfielder Tim Wilson’s two-run double, putting the Dawgs up 2-0.

Junior first baseman Aaron Jones would hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to tally the score to 3-0, but the Indians came back in the seventh inning, scoring two runs off Saluki sophomore reliever Chris Kulig to pull within one run, 3-2.

In the eighth inning, senior pitcher Dave Farrow (3-3), who suffered the loss, surrendered two more runs off two hits, two walks and a Saluki error.

The Indians would touch Southern’s next pitcher, junior Mike McConnell, for another run in the inning and pull ahead 5-3 for the final score in the three-run inning.

Saluki coach Dan Callahan said the club obviously wanted to win the game, but said he felt the weekend series at UNI was of greater importance.

I look for our players to bounce back well this weekend, and have a solid weekend against the Panthers, he said.

We had some solid performances on the mound, but we weren’t going to let anyone go very long. Jason Frasor hurled three scoreless innings as our starter, as this game served as a tune-up for important innings he’ll have to throw for us this weekend.

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Southern’s series in Cedar Falls, Iowa begins today at 2:00 p.m., with a double-header Saturday at noon, and the final game Sunday at 1:00 p.m.