Saluki Baseball clinches series with 5-0 win over Illinois State

Saturday, May 13

Carbondale, Ill.

2 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

25-26, 8-9

Illinois State

12-36, 1-16

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

Saluki Baseball clinches series with 5-0 win over Illinois State

05/13/2017 | 8:07:00 | Baseball

Box Score

Logan Blackfan set the SIU career doubles record

By: By John Lock | SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Connor Kopach hit a grand slam and three Saluki pitchers combined for a shutout to give the Salukis a 5-0 series-clinching win over Illinois State on Saturday afternoon at Itchy Jones Stadium. Jamison Steege threw seven shutout innings in his first Missouri Valley Conference start of his career.

"One swing of the bat and seven great innings by Jamison. That's the story of the game," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "Kopach's swing in the second was huge, and Jamison went out and did exactly what you're supposed to with a four run lead: Throw strikes and make people beat you. That was key. I was proud of him."

Kopach's grand slam was the capper on a two-out rally in the second inning. Logan Blackfan started it off by drawing a two-out walk. Ryan Sabo singled, and Dyllin Mucha was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kopach took a 2-0 pitch to the opposite field for the grand slam.

"That was the swing of the game," Henderson said. "It lets everyone relax a little bit. It's certainly a lot easier to throw with a 4-0 lead than a 0-0 tie. We didn't do a good job with runners in scoring position all day. We did a good job getting runners in scoring position; we just left a lot of guys on. I was hoping for a base hit right there, and for him to get it out of the park, that was huge."

Regular Saturday starter Michael Baird was held out as a precautionary measure with a sore arm. Steege stepped in and was dominant for a second-straight week. Last weekend against No. 16 Missouri State, Steege entered in relief and threw 6.2 brilliant innings, allowing just one unearned run. Today, he threw seven shutout innings, scattering five hits while striking out five.

The Redbirds (12-36, 1-16 MVC) loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning, but Mitch Townsend worked out of it by inducing a pop out and a strikeout. Jacob Williams struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure the series for SIU. Southern (25-26, 8-9 MVC) clinched a series win over Illinois State for the third-straight year.

"We knew we needed to get on a little bit of a roll going into the tournament," Henderson said. "We need to continue to play better and continue to get momentum. Tomorrow, we need to play well because I guarantee (Illinois State is) going to show up and give us everything they've got. They always do and they always play hard."

Logan Blackfan hit a fifth-inning double to set the SIU career doubles record. He has 52 career doubles, which broke the record held by Chris Serritella (2009-12) and Tim Kratochvil (1993-96).

"I'm just happy to be there," Blackfan said. "It's awesome to have my name in the record books, but I just have to keep at it and hit some more doubles. Just because I have it now doesn't mean I stop."

SIU honored its 11 seniors before the game: Gavyn Ellet, Will Farmer, Jake Hand, Joey Marciano, Austin McPheron, Dyllin Mucha, Ryan Sabo, Anthony Shimkus, Ryan Smith, Chad Whitmer and Jacob Williams.

"They've been a great group," Henderson said. "They're good players, but they're even better people. I always hate to lose seniors, but this group is awfully special. It was one of our first recruiting classes as a staff, and they've been phenomenal kids--great students and great ambassadors for the program. You can't ask for a better group of people. That's what I'll remember most about this group."

The Salukis will go for the sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Marciano will take the mound for the Salukis. SIU has won seven of the last nine against Illinois State but has not swept the Redbirds since 2009.