Salukis clinch series with 7-4 win over Indiana State

Saturday, April 11

Terre Haute, Ind.

1:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

7-27, 3-5

Indiana State

13-19, 3-8

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

04/11/2015 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

April 11, 2015

Box Score

By Rico Cruz
SIUSalukis.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - For the second-straight game, Southern Illinois used a three-run rally to beat Indiana State, grabbing a 7-4 series-clinching victory on Saturday. The win against ISU gives the Salukis their first MVC series win since 2013.

"It feels good to win the series and two in a row," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "We played well today. That was one of the better games that we've played all year in all phases of the game. We executed on offense, were outstanding on defense, and were great on the mound."

It didn't take long for Southern (7-27, 3-5 MVC) to get on the scoreboard. Chase Slone drew a lead-off walk to begin the first inning. Looking to advance Slone to scoring position, Will Farmer laid down a bunt, but an error on the Sycamores (13-19, 3-8 MVC) allowed Farmer to reach first and Slone to get to third. Greg Lambert put the Salukis up, 1-0, with a hard hit single at the Sycamore shortstop. After back-to-back strikeouts, Nick Hutchins dropped a base hit right in front of the ISU centerfielder, scoring Farmer and giving SIU a 2-0 lead.

The Salukis found themselves in trouble in the fourth, when the Sycamores scored three runs off of SIU starter Bryce Sablotny. Derek Hannahs' two-run single highlighted the frame for INS.

After four-straight scoreless frames, SIU broke through in the sixth inning with three runs to take a 5-3 lead. Hits by Farmer and Lambert set up Logan Blackfan for a two-run double into right centerfield to give the Salukis a 4-3 lead. After Blackfan advanced to third on a passed ball and a Tyler Rolland walk, Hutchins hit a deep sacrifice fly to score Blackfan and extend the Southern lead to 5-3.

With ISU threatening to score a run in the bottom of the sixth, Slone channeled his inner Derek Jeter with an incredible jumping throw from shortstop to get an out at first to end the inning.

Sablotny (1-2) exited the game after six strong innings. The redshirt senior allowed three runs on eight hits, while striking out four. Sablotny was rewarded for his efforts with his first win of the season.

With all of the momentum in SIU's favor, Parker Osborne sent a deep shot into left field that just cleared the wall for his second career home run and a 6-3 lead for Southern in the seventh.

Things got troublesome for the Salukis in the bottom of the eighth. After the Sycamores scored a run to make it a 6-4 game, Anthony Shimkus pitched himself into a bases loaded jam with two outs. The Salukis once again turned to the bullpen to shutdown the ISU hitters. Colten Selvey entered the game and only needed two pitches to induce a popout to get Southern out of the inning with their lead intact.

Holding a 6-4 lead in the ninth, Hutchins opened the frame with a double down the left field line. After a Ryan Sabo groundout advanced Hutchins to third, Osborne brought him in with a liner into the outfield to give SIU a 7-4 lead.

The Salukis had one more scare in the bottom of the ninth from the Sycamores. After back-to-back walks and then a strikeout from Selvey, SIU made a pitching change. Ryan Netemeyer entered the game with a 2-0 count on the batter, but the hard-throwing freshman got a grounder and a strikeout to seal the 7-4 victory for the Salukis and pick up his first career save.

"I just wanted to come in, throw strikes, and let the defense make plays behind me," said Netemeyer. "They had been making plays all day and I had faith in them."

The Saluki offense was once again productive, collecting 10 hits on the day. Lambert and Hutchins had three hits each, while Osborne improved to 6-for-8 in the series with four RBI.

"Parker has been huge for us," said Henderson. "He has been aggressive and when he gets a pitch that he can hit, he has been all over it. His RBI in the ninth was unbelievably huge for us. Not only has Parker hit well, but the entire team has been hitting well."

The Salukis will look to get the series sweep on Sunday, when Kyle Pruemer takes the mound. First pitch will be at noon CST from Bob Warn Field.