Southern Illinois University
10-38, 0
Evansville
26-18, 0
Southern falls to Evansville, 6-5
05/02/2015 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
By Rico Cruz
SIUSalukis.com
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - A back-and-forth game at Charles H. Braun Stadium saw Evansville edge Southern Illinois, 6-5, on Saturday afternoon. The Salukis (10-38, 5-12 MVC) led the Purple Aces (26-18, 8-9 MVC) late in the game, but walks were the team's downfall.
"We gave up eight free passes today, and five of them scored," said SIU head coach Ken Henderson. "The walks we gave up were the difference in the game today."
SIU didn't waste time getting on the scoreboard, picking up a run in the opening frame to go on top, 1-0. Singles by Will Farmer and Tyler Rolland and a walk by Greg Lambert loaded the bases for Logan Blackfan. The freshman gave Southern the lead after he was hit by a pitch, on a 3-2 count, scoring Farmer and putting the Salukis out front.
The early run was quickly matched by the Purple Aces in the bottom half of the inning, when Kevin Kaczmarski singled into left field to tie the game at 1-1. UE took a 2-1 lead in the third inning, scoring another run off of SIU starter Bryce Sablotny. Sablotny's day was over after five innings, giving up two runs on five hits in the no-decision.
Trailing by one in the fifth inning, Lambert tied the game at 2-2 when the freshman infielder sliced a single into right field for an RBI. The Salukis took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning on a UE wild pitch that allowed Blackfan to score from third base. The lead would be brief, as the home team scored two runs in the bottom half of the frame for a 4-3 lead over SIU.
Southern continued to battle back, this time with two runs in the seventh to regain a 5-4 lead. With he bases loaded, Blackfan hit his second double of the game, scoring Chase Slone and Parker Osborne. The double was Blackfan's 18th of the season.
Unfortunately for the Salukis, the bullpen woes continued, as UE scored two runs in the eighth inning to capture a 6-5 lead. Southern had one last chance in the ninth inning, with the tying run on third base, but a groundball out stranded the run at third base.
"I'm proud of everybody today," said Henderson. "We never stopped and we never quit. That is one thing that I have been proud about this season. We just did not get it done today. We just could not get any separation from them when we got the lead."
SIU will look to get a win in the series finale tomorrow. First pitch is at 1 p.m., with Kyle Pruemer taking the mound for Southern.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jurceka (3-2)
L: Netemeyer, Ryan (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Blackfan, Logan 2
RBI: Lambert, Greg 1 ; Blackfan, Logan 3
SH: Farmer, Will 1 ; Osborne, Parker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Slone, Chase 1 ; Farmer, Will 1 ; Osborne, Parker 1 ; Blackfan, Logan 1 ; Mosley, Braden 1
HBP: Osborne, Parker 1 ; Rolland, Tyler 1 ; Blackfan, Logan 1
Batting:
2B: Ramon 1
RBI: Perry 2 ; Kaczmarski 1 ; Ramon 2 ; Sullivan 1
SF: Ramon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Perry 2 ; Kaczmarski 1 ; Foley 1 ; Tokarek 1 ; Nelson 1
SB: Perry 1 ; Nelson 1
CS: Kaczmarski 1
HBP: Perry 1 ; Nelson 1
