Salukis come from behind to beat Wichita State, 11-8

Saturday, April 8

Wichita, Kan.

2 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

16-16, 4-1

Wichita State

15-15, 1-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	0	0	0	1	3	1	1	4	1	11	14	1
Wichita State	1	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	3	8	11	1

04/08/2017 | 6:50:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: By John Lock | SIUSalukis.com

WICHITA, Kan. - Trailing 5-1 after four innings, the Southern Illinois baseball team scored 10 unanswered runs and hung on in the ninth for an 11-8 win over Wichita State on Saturday afternoon in Eck Stadium. SIU evened the series and a game apiece, and the series will be decided tomorrow at 1 p.m.

After three innings, SIU (16-16, 4-1 MVC) was down 2-0 and hadn't scored in 21 consecutive innings. Then SIU scored in six-straight innings to close the game and secure the win. Southern scored its most runs ever at Wichita State.

"I'm the most proud of our demeanor," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "We challenged them to come out and play like we're capable of--to battle and compete harder. From the time we got off the bus, we were a different ball club. We were ready to compete. Then we got down 5-1 when things haven't been going well for us lately, and we battled. We had a lot of quality ABs, especially the bottom of the order. Those guys battled their rear ends off and made some things happen. But it all starts with the fact that we didn't give in."

Southern got within 2-1 after the top half of the fourth inning, but Wichita State (15-15, 1-1 MVC) came back with a two-out, three-run double in the bottom half to extend its lead to 5-1. The Salukis came right back with three runs in the next half-inning. Ryan Sabo and Dyllin Mucha led off the inning with back-to-back doubles to chase Wichita starter Tommy Barnhouse. Mucha aggressively took third base on a ball that barely got away from the catcher. Then Connor Kopach walked and was aggressive himself, taking second on another ball that barely got away.

Ryan Smith brought in Mucha on an RBI groundout--a double-play ball if Kopach hadn't taken second. Then Kopach stole third and was in position to score on Greg Lambert's sacrifice fly.

"That's our plan. That's the way we've tried to play all year," Henderson said of the running game. "We were aggressive on the bases, and it got us a couple runs and maybe some momentum."

Michael Baird started for SIU and allowed five runs in four innings. He had only seven walks in 50 innings coming in, but he walked a career-high four batters today. Still, SIU improved to 8-0 in Baird's eight starts this year.

"That's the first time in 23 starts he hasn't been dominant," Henderson said. "That's going to happen. It just wasn't his day."

After SIU seized momentum with its three-run fifth, Mitch Townsend entered and pitched a clutch scoreless bottom half. SIU kept momentum rolling when Nick Hutchins led off the sixth with a double and scored the tying run on Will Farmer's RBI single. Townsend pitched another shut-down inning, and SIU took the lead in the seventh. Ryan Smith led off with a walk and stole second--one of four stolen bases for SIU in the game. Logan Blackfan got in an 0-2 hole, but he fouled off four-straight pitches before delivering the go-ahead RBI single.

SIU expanded the lead with a four-run eighth. Will Farmer led off with a walk, and Sabo moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Dyllin Mucha brought home Farmer with a double, and Kopach followed with a walk. Smith poked an 0-2 pitch through the left side for another run, and Greg Lambert followed with a two-run triple.

"To come into a place that's extremely hard to play and get a win, I'm extremely proud of them," Henderson said.

Jacob Williams pitched a perfect seventh, and Alex Gutermuth pitched a scoreless eighth after facing a two-on, no-out jam.

"Our bullpen was outstanding," Henderson said. "They threw up zeros and gave us a chance. If you're down 5-1 and you let them expand the lead, you can't get any momentum. But when you go out and throw up zeros, you give your offense something to get excited about. Great job by them."

Nick Hutchins stole second after a walk in the eighth, and Sabo brought him home to make the score 11-5. Sabo was 3-for-3 with two perfect sacrifice bunts in the game. Wichita State made it a game in the ninth. The Shockers loaded the bases with one out. Gutermuth got a strikeout for the second out but was pulled for closer Ryan Netemeyer after walking in a run. Netemeyer walked in a run to bring the tying run to the plate, then another run scored on a passed ball. On a 3-0 pitch, Wichita 3-hole hitter Alec Bohm popped out in foul territory. Netemeyer earned his MVC-leading 10th save of the season.

SIU and WSU will play the rubber game at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. Joey Marciano will start for SIU and face Wichita's Cody Tyler. SIU has entered all seven Sundays with a chance to win or sweep a series this year.