Salukis cruise to 7-3 win over Illinois State

Friday, April 22

Normal, Ill.

6:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

22-16-1, 3-4

Illinois State

10-26, 1-5

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

04/22/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

April 22, 2016

Box Score

NORMAL, Ill. - Southern Illinois scored six runs with two outs to open the series against Illinois State with a 7-3 win Friday night.

"I thought that all night long we had good plate approaches," head coach Ken Henderson said. "We had a great night on offense. Connor Kopach had a big night for us. When he gets on base, we will win games."

It didn't take the Salukis (22-16-1, 3-4 MVC) long to get on the scoreboard, scoring four runs in the second inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Connor Kopach turned a 2-2 pitch into a two-run double for the first runs of the game. Dyllin Mucha followed, singling into center field to plate two more Saluki baserunners. The Redbirds (10-26, 1-5 MVC) answered in the bottom half of the inning, hitting a two-run home run to make it a 4-2 SIU lead.

Chad Whitmer turned in another quality start for SIU, pitching seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits. The junior RHP held the Redbirds scoreless for five innings, helping him to his fourth win of the season.

"We needed to set the tone on Fridays and get off to a better start, and that is why we went with Chad tonight," Henderson said. "Chad did what you need from a Friday starter. He kept it a low scoring affair and gave our offense a chance."

Southern added runs in the fifth, seventh, and ninth innings for a 7-3 advantage over the Redbirds, highlighted by a Ryan Smith solo home run in the final inning. The bullpen combination of Jacob Williams and Ryan Netemeyer closed out the game for the Salukis, pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth inning.

The top four hitters of the Saluki lineup did most of the damage offensively for Southern. Kopach, Mucha, Greg Lambert, and Logan Blackfan combined for six of SIU's 10 hits and five of the seven RBIs.

"The key to today's game was Kopach and Mucha," Henderson said. "With those two guys both having a good night, it helped spark the offense and set us up to score runs."

Southern will look to clinch the series on Saturday, as LHP Joey Marciano takes the hill for SIU. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.