Salukis win season opener at Stetson, 7-6

Friday, February 17

DeLand, Fla.

5:30 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

1-0

Stetson

0-1

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

02/17/2017 | 9:23:00 | Baseball

Box Score

DeLAND, Fla. - The Southern Illinois baseball team won the 2017 season opener 7-6 at Stetson on Friday night. SIU (1-0) jumped out to a 7-2 lead and held on after the Hatters (0-1) got the tying run in scoring positions with no outs in the ninth.

"It wasn't a thing of beauty, but we did a lot of really good things," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "We really competed our rear ends off, and we found a way to win. We built a lead and found a way to hang on. For opening day, I was proud of them. Our effort was really good."

SIU came through offensively in some clutch situations. Southern loaded the bases with one out in the second but popped out for the second out. Connor Kopach came through with a two-out, two-RBI double. In the fifth, the Salukis had second and third with no outs but didn't get the ball off the infield in the next two batters. This time, Will Farmer came through with a two-out, two-run single.

"I just told our team; that's one of the things I'm most proud of," Henderson said. "We didn't do a great job with runners in scoring position, but we picked each other up. That's what good teams and good teammates do. We have a bad AB, but the next guy comes up and picks up a teammate. Those two-out RBIs were the difference in the ballgame."

Preseason All-MVC pick Chad Whitmer got the ball for the Salukis and pitched six quality innings. He allowed only two runs (one earned) in the second inning. After the Hatters got two singles with one out in the fourth, Whitmer set down 10 straight batters and 11 of his final 12.

"He was in command," Henderson said. "He gave up one earned run in six innings on opening night against a really good ballclub in a tough place to play. We've been here several times over the years, and it's not an easy place to win. They're a really good club; so to come out and shut them down for the most part and give our offense a chance to get going, he was outstanding."

After Hutchins two-run homer in the top of the seventh, SIU led 7-2 and looked like it might cruise to a win; but Stetson battled with single runs in the seventh and eighth. Jacob Williams inherited a runner in the eighth but got three big outs to send SIU to the ninth with a 7-4 lead.

Closer Ryan Netemeyer came in for the save in the ninth, but the Hatters led the inning with two walks and a double to get the game-tying run into scoring position with no outs. Netemeyer got two big strikeouts before a wild pitch brought the game to 7-6. His third strikeout of the inning secured the win for SIU.

"We need to eliminate strikeouts at the plate, and we have to eliminate walks out of the bullpen," Henderson said. "Those guys will. (Jacob) Williams was outstanding. He had a great inning. He came in with an inherited base runner and got the ball to Netemeyer. Ryan isn't always going to be clean, but he has great stuff. He has great makeup. The tying run is on second base with no outs, and I guarantee he's the guy out there to finish the job. He struck out the side. That was special."

SIU will go for the series win tomorrow afternoon with a 1 p.m. CT game. Consensus Preseason MVC Pitcher of the Year Michael Baird will be on the mound for SIU.

"People wonder why I don't start Baird on Friday," Henderson said. "Two reasons: Whitmer is awfully good. He's special. And now we're 1-0 and we have one of the best pitchers around going on Saturday, and then Marciano on Sunday. That's a good feeling with what we have on the bump for the weekend."