SIU baseball did not start 2015 on the right foot.

The Salukis (0-1) lost 5-0 to the No. 2 Texas Christian University Horned Frogs (1-0) in the season opener.

TCU senior Preston Morrison earned the win. SIU senior Aaron Hauge suffered the loss.

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In the second inning, SIU had two runners in scoring position with one out after a sacrifice bunt from sophomore third baseman Will Farmer. The next two batters struck out to end the inning.

The game remained scoreless until the fifth. TCU junior outfielder Nolan Brown led off with a double to right field. He scored on an RBI single from junior outfielder Dane Steinhagen.

Sophomore Chad Whitmer relieved Hauge to start the sixth inning. Hauge finished with 5 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks and 3 hits.

TCU extended its lead to 4-0 in the sixth. Senior infielder Keaton Jones singled to lead off the inning. He reached third on a failed pickoff and throwing error by Whitmer. Senior infielder Derek Odell walked.

Jones scored on a balk.

Senior infielder Garrett Crain walked.  

Freshman pinch hitter Connor Wanhanen singled home Odell and Crain to cap the inning.

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Freshman Ryan Netemeyer relieved Whitmer to start the seventh inning.  

Morrison finished with 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 strikeouts, 2 walks and 3 hits.

The Horned Frogs added an insurance run in the eighth. Odell walked to leadoff the inning and scored on a RBI single from Crain.

Saluki sophomore catcher and outfielder Jake Hand and freshman designated hitter Logan Blackfan both finished 2-for-3 to lead the team.

Steinhagen also finished 2-for-3 and recorded 2 stolen bases to lead the Horned Frogs.

SIU and TCU play game two of the three-game series at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

 Aaron Graff can be reached at [email protected] or at 536-3311 ext. 256