After wasting two stellar outings by its starters, the SIU baseball team (5-21, 1-5) salvaged its first Missouri Valley Conference win in dramatic fashion Sunday. 

 

The Bradley Braves (19-6, 2-1) saw their bullpen stumble after using two pitchers in the series’ first two games. 

 

Junior ace Aaron Hauge pitched a career game in Friday’s series opener, allowing 1 run on 5 hits through 8 innings. Hauge struck out a career-high 12 batters, but fell to 2-3 on the year in the 1-0 loss. 

 

A one-out triple by Bradley junior second baseman Chris Godinez and a sacrifice fly led to the game’s only run. 

 

Bradley junior Eliott Ashbeck pitched a five-hit complete-game shutout, striking out nine Salukis. 

 

SIU squandered another gem in a 10-0 loss Saturday. Senior right-hander Bryce Sablotny pitched 6 innings of one-run baseball and set his own career-high strikeout total with six. 

 

Redshirt sophomore Anthony Shimkus and sophomore Chad Whitmer combined to allow 9 runs in the seventh. 

 

Junior Steve Adkins went the distance for Bradley, allowing 5 hits and striking out seven. 

 

A late rally Sunday gave SIU its first conference win of the season, 5-3. 

 

The Salukis trailed 3-2 after seven innings, but an RBI single by sophomore center fielder Dyllin Mucha tied the game, and a groundout by freshman shortstop Chase Slone pushed across the go-ahead run. 

 

Sophomore righty Jacob Williams picked up the win for SIU after coming on in relief for sophomore starter Kyle Pruemer. Junior closer Colten Selvey picked up the save.

 

“Not only were the results better, but he looked better,” coach Ken Henderson said. “That’s the Kyle Pruemer we expect to see.”

 

The Salukis play the Murray State Racers at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Murray, Ky.

 

Thomas Donley can be reached at [email protected] or at 536-3311 ext. 269