Southern drops double-header to Western Kentucky on Saturday

Saturday, February 28

Bowling Green, Ky.

5:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

1-9

Western Kentucky

4-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	2
Western Kentucky	5	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	X	9	8	4

02/28/2015 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 28, 2015

Box Score

By Rico Cruz
SIUSalukis.com

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Southern Illinois baseball dropped a series opening double-header to Western Kentucky on Saturday. The Salukis (1-9) lost the first game, 8-6, and dropped the second game, 9-1, to the Hilltoppers (4-5).

"The first game was our best offensive game so far this season," head coach Ken Henderson said. "We hit the ball well the entire game and we hit the balls hard. I thought we swung the bats well and I told our guys that."

The Saluki offense came alive early in the first game. Braden Mosley hit a lead-off single in the first inning to start things off for SIU. A grounder from Will Farmer advanced Mosley to second, before Greg Lambert gave Southern the early 1-0 lead with a single into right field, scoring Mosley.

The second inning saw more offense from the Salukis. Back-to-back singles from Taylor Martin and Parker Osborne gave SIU a pair of early baserunners. After two straight outs, a WKU wild pitch and a Farmer walk gave the Salukis a bases loaded opportunity and Lambert took advantage of it. The freshman infielder hit a single into centerfield to score two more runs and give SIU a 3-0 lead.

The Hilltoppers responded in the bottom half of the second, scoring five runs on five hits to take a 5-3 lead after two innings.

After a scoreless third inning, SIU tied the game with a two-run fourth inning. Chase Slone got things going with a single up the middle. An error on WKU's second baseman allowed Farmer to get on first. Lambert's third hit of the game gave the Salukis another bases loaded situation. Jake Hand tied the game with a two-run single into deep left field.

The game would not stay tied too long, as WKU regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth. After Alex Lesiak came into the game in relief of Aaron Hauge, Paul Murray sent a single into center field to bring in one run and give the Hilltoppers a 6-5 lead.

A pair of runs from Western in the 7th inning pushed the home team's lead to 8-6.

The Salukis would not go down without a fight though. Martin opened the eighth with a single through the left side. Osborne was hit by a pitch to give the Salukis runners on first and second. After Slone lined out to second base, Mosley walked to load the bases for the fourth time in the game for SIU. Southern cut the lead to 8-6 after Farmer was walked, bringing in Martin. The Saluki rally came to an end after Lambert hit into a double-play. SIU went down in order in the ninth.

Lambert had a great offensive game for the Salukis, going 3-of-5 with three RBIs. Martin also had three hits, while Hand had two RBIs.

"That is what Greg (Lambert) is capable of," said Henderson. "That is why he hits in the three hole as a freshman. He is a nice hitter and he had a good day on offense. He has a bright future and that guy can swing the bat."

Jacob Williams made his first relief appearance since Feb. 25 of last season, after recovering from an injury. He pitched 1.1 innings and gave up one hit.

Game two of the double-header did not start well for the Salukis.

After Kyle Pruemer struck out the lead-off hitter, the next three WKU runners reached base on a single and two walks. Three more hits, including a pair of doubles, gave WKU a 5-0 lead to start the game.

Pruemer settled down after the first inning, giving up only one hit over his last four innings pitched.

"I'm not happy about him giving up five runs in the first inning, but I am proud of him," said Henderson. "Credit to him that he comes back and throws four zeros. He looked like the guy that we expected him to be after the first inning."

The Saluki offense, however, could not get things going against the Hilltopper pitching staff in the second game. SIU had a tough time in the batters box, scattering three hits in the game and had 10 strikeouts.

Trailing, 5-0, in the sixth inning, WKU extended its lead to 9-0 with another offensive burst in the inning, all but putting the game out of reach for the Salukis.

SIU was able to avoid the shutout with a run in the ninth inning after a passed ball allowed the Salukis to get a run in.

The series finale between SIU and WKU will be played tomorrow at 12 p.m.