Southern drops 3-2 extra innings game to Murray State

Wednesday, February 25

Carbondale, Ill.

2:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

1-7

Murray State

2-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Murray State	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	6	0
Southern Illinois	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	10	1

02/25/2015 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 25, 2015

Box Score

By Rico Cruz
SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Missed opportunities hurt Southern Illinois in a 3-2 11-inning loss to Murray State Wednesday afternoon at Itchy Jones Stadium. The Salukis (1-7) were able to tie the game in the ninth, but the Racers (2-5) scored the lone run in extra innings.

"We did a great job of manufacturing opportunities, we just did a poor job of taking advantages of those opportunities," head coach Ken Henderson said. "That was the difference in the ball game. We had a ton of guys in scoring position."

SIU's Anthony Shimkus gave up a lead-off triple to MSU's Tyler Lawrence to begin the 11th inning. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases with one out for the Racers, a deep sacrifice fly was enough to get Lawrence to score from third, and give MSU a 3-2 lead.

Needing to score a run to continue playing, Logan Blackfan started the bottom of the 11th for SIU with a walk. Braden Mosley entered the game as a pinch-runner to give the Salukis a little more speed on the base paths. Mosley stole second after J.C. DeMuri struck out. A wild pitch allowed Mosley to get to third base and only 90 feet away from tying the game. Nick Hutchins got on base via a walk, setting Chase Slone up for an opportunity to bring Mosley in. Slone put the ball in play, but the Racers were able to make a play on it and get Mosley out at home.

With two outs, Dyllin Mucha stepped up to the plate with a chance to extend the game. A wild pitch let Hutchins and Slone to each move up a base, giving SIU two runners in scoring position. With a 3-2 count, Mucha struck out swinging, ending the game and giving the Racers the win.

"We executed a lot of things well today," said Henderson. "We just could not bring our runners in."

After falling behind 2-0 early in the first inning, the Saluki pitching staff held the Racers scoreless for nine innings. The Saluki bullpen was especially sharp, combining to pitch eight innings and allow one run on three hits.

SIU got on the scoreboard in the third inning, when Greg Lambert brought Mucha in and cut the lead to 2-1.

In the fourth inning, after allowing the first two batters of the inning get on base, the Salukis brought Bryce Sablotny into the game to pitch. The senior reliever got SIU out of the inning unharmed. Sablotny shut down the Racers offense in his four innings of work, giving up only one hit.

Down 2-1 heading into the ninth, Southern was down to its last three outs, until Blackfan blasted a solo home run into right field to tie the game at 2-2. It was Blackfan's first career home run. With the game now tied at 2-2, SIU looked to get the win.

After Blackfan's home run, DeMuri laced a single into left field and represented the winning run. Ryan Sabo entered the game as a pinch-hitter but was called out after fouling his third bunt attempt. With one out, Slone singled through the right side, allowing DeMuri to get to third. The Salukis ran into some bad luck when Mucha put a ball into play the went right to the pitcher. DeMuri was caught on an island and the Racers were able to run him down for the second out of the inning. SIU had one more chance to win the game, but a Will Farmer grounder to the pitcher ended the inning.

Next up for the Salukis is a three-game home series with Western Kentucky this weekend. However, inclement weather may change the date and location of the series.