Near no-hitter highlights doubleheader sweep for Saluki Baseball

Sunday, March 20

Carbondale, Ill.

3:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

12-7-1

Illinois

7-10

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

Near no-hitter highlights doubleheader sweep for Saluki Baseball

03/20/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 20, 2016

Box Score

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Michael Baird's bid for a no-hitter against Illinois highlighted a doubleheader sweep for Southern Illinois baseball on Sunday. The Salukis (12-7-1) opened the day with a 5-2 victory over Northern Illinois, before closing out the day with a 1-0 win over the Illini (7-10).

The day started with the Salukis taking on the Huskies (4-16) at Itchy Jones Stadium. The scoring started early, after NIU scored two unearned runs in the top of the first off of SIU starter Bryce Sablotny. The RHP senior was making his second start of the week after pitching five innings in a start at Arkansas State.

Southern answered back with a big inning of its own, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first to make it a 3-2 Saluki advantage. Dyllin Mucha drew a walk and Jake Hand singled into center field to put runners on for SIU. With one swing of the bat, Logan Blackfan put the Salukis on top with his second home run of the season. The lead grew to 5-3 in the third inning after Taylor Martin hit a two-run single into left field.

The three-run advantage was all Sablotny needed to pitch his way to his second win of the season. He finished the game after seven strong innings on the mound, allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout. He lowered his ERA from 6.30 to 4.67 after another quality start.

SIU turned to the bullpen in the eighth inning to preserve the lead. Anthony Shimkus pitched a scoreless eighth, before Ryan Netemeyer wrapped up the game in the ninth for his fourth save of the season.

"That three-run home run by Blackfan is probably the biggest swing of the day," head coach Ken Henderson said. "We got off to a bad start with two unearned runs. We are down 2-0, and then suddenly he hits a rocket out and now we are up 3-2."

The second game of the day was just as thrilling, this time from the pitcher's mound. Baird tossed Southern's first complete game shutout since 2012 in a 1-0 win over the Illini.

UI's Andrew Mamlic and Baird put on a show for the first six innings, frustrating hitters and holding the opposing team scoreless. It wasn't until the seven inning that Southern was finally able to capitalize on a pair of Illini errors. Greg Lambert reached on an error after UI's third baseman misplayed a ball that was hit right at him. Nick Hutchins was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Hunter Anderson hit into a fielder's choice, advancing Lambert 60 feet away from home. Just when it looked like the inning was over, an error on the Illini's shortstop on a routine groundball allowed Lambert to score and give the Salukis a 1-0 lead.

With the way Baird was pitching, the one run was all the sophomore RHP needed. Heading into the eighth inning, the Illini could not figure out the puzzle that was Baird's pitching. After a quick eighth frame, Baird was three outs away from the first SIU no-hitter since 1979. It was in the ninth inning when the Illini were finally able to get the best of Baird, as a pinch-hitter blooped a single into center field to break up the no-hitter. With the weight off of his shoulders, Baird recorded the final three outs to give Southern the victory.

"I didn't notice that I had a no-hitter going until after the fifth inning," Baird said. "It was kind of upsetting that things didn't come through like I would have wanted them to. After giving up that hit, I knew that I still had to come back because it was still a close game. It was a pretty surreal feeling for me today."

With the win Baird improved to 3-1 on the season. Illini hitters were officially 1-for-26 against the sophomore with four strikeouts.

"Michael has been good all year for us and was good again today," Henderson said. "We made some great plays behind him in the game. He has great stuff and anytime you throw a one-hitter in college baseball, it's a phenomenal outing. I am extremely proud of him. "

After a four-game weekend, the Salukis will have a couple of days off before returning to action on Thursday for the start of a three-game series against Memphis.