Salukis lose 10-8 on walk-off home run

Thursday, May 26

Terre Haute, Ind.

5:30 P.M.

Southern Illinois University

31-24-1

Dallas Baptist

39-17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	1	2	0	3	0	1	0	0	1	8	15	0
Dallas Baptist	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	6	2	10	10	1

05/26/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

May 26, 2016

Box Score | Photo Gallery

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Southern Illinois led Dallas Baptist by as many as six runs on Thursday, but faltered late in a 10-8 loss to the Patriots (39-17) at Bob Warn Field.

"Our guys played their rear ends off and played unbelievably well, we just couldn't finish it tonight," head coach Ken Henderson said. "The free passes we gave up in the eighth are what hurt us."

It was the Saluki (31-24-1) offense that got off to a fast start, scoring a run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The lead expanded to 3-0 in the second on RBI singles by Dyllin Mucha and Greg Lambert. Southern doubled the lead in the fourth to 6-0 with three more hits in the inning. The Patriots scored their first run in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 6-1 game. Both teams traded a run in the sixth inning to make it a 7-2 game.

The eighth inning was when momentum swung into DBU's favor. The Patriots quickly erased the five run deficit and took an 8-7 lead behind a grand slam and a two-run home run in the inning. Now trailing for the first time in the game heading into the ninth, the pressure was on the Salukis. Hunter Anderson relieved some of that pressure, when he tied the game with a solo home run to open the inning. The rally was short lived though, as DBU won the game with a walk-off two-run home run.

Michael Baird was on the mound SIU and turned in another quality start. The sophomore RHP pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts.

Southern's offense played exceptionally well, out hitting the Patriots, 15-10. Five Salukis had two hits or more, led by Mucha and Lambert who had three hits each. Anderson had a team-high three RBIs.

"Our offense was outstanding tonight," said Henderson. "That might have been the best offensive game that we have had all year. I am proud of the effort by our guys. We just have to put this one behind us and focus on tomorrow."

The Salukis will now face Evansville tomorrow in an elimination game. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. ET with LHP Joey Marciano taking the mound for Southern.