Offense stalls in 13-4 loss to Redbirds

Saturday, April 18

Carbondale, Ill.

2:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

8-31, 0

Illinois State

18-17, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Illinois State	2	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	6	13	12	3
Southern Illinois	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	4	9	1

04/18/2015 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

April 18, 2015

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A day after scoring seven runs in a walk-off win, Southern Illinois struggled at the plate in a 13-4 loss to Illinois State on Saturday.

It was all ISU (18-17, 5-6 MVC) from the start, as the Salukis (8-31, 4-7) fell behind 2-0 in the first inning. The Redbirds scored five more runs in the fourth inning, including a grand slam, off of SIU starter Bryce Sablotny (1-3) to extend their lead to 7-0. The redshirt senior allowed seven runs on seven hits in four innings of play.

"Bryce just had an off-day," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "He didn't have command and that is what got him into trouble. He usually has good command and keeps the ball down in the zone. It happens."

SIU got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning to make it a 7-1 game. Jake Hand reached base after an error on the ISU third baseman and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A Ryan Sabo single through the left side set up Braden Mosley for a fielder's choice, scoring Hand from third.

Southern fell into a deeper hole after ISU tacked on six runs in the ninth for a 13-1 lead. Refusing to give up without a fight, Mosley hit a three-run home run to make it a 13-4 game. The rally fell short, as a groundball out ended the game. Mosley's home run was his second career and second in his last three games.

"Jacob Hendren is good and he can pitch," said Henderson. "He is 7-1 on the year. He doesn't give you much to hit and you have to tip your hat to him. We had four hits through eight innings and could not figure him out."

The Salukis finished the game with nine hits, five of them coming in the ninth inning. Mosley's four RBI was a new career-high for the freshman outfielder.

The series finale against the Redbirds takes place on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Itchy Jones Stadium. Southern looks to win the series when Kyle Pruemer takes the mound.