The SIU baseball team turned to senior starting pitcher Michael Baird in game one of the three-game series against No. 21 Tennessee Tech (32-5) in search of snapping TTU’s 22-game win streak.

However, the Golden Eagles’ defense was too much for the Salukis as they fell 4-0 Friday evening.

Tennessee Tech hit the board first as it loaded the bases with back-to-back singles and an error. With one last error on senior shortstop Connor Kopach, TTU scored its first run of the game.

Baird began to struggle in the fourth as he put a runner on via a walk and, with a couple of wild pitches, the runner made his way home for a 2-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles scored again in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk.

With a double and a single, TTU put up one more run in the game, securing the 4-0 win and extending its winning streak to 23 games.

Baird (3-3 ) received the loss after pitching five innings, on five hits and only one earned run. He also finished with three walks and six strikeouts.

The Salukis struggled at the plate in the contest as they only pieced together three hits, while striking out 14 times.

SIU (20-18, 4-5 MVC) will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Senior pitcher Jamison Steege (4-2, 4.45 ERA) will get the start.

Sports reporter Dillon Gilliland can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @DillonGilliland.

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