Saturday, March 31
Normal, Ill.
2 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
14-13, 2-1
5
at
6
Illinois State
10-13, 1-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Southern Illinois
0
0
0
1
3
0
1
0
0
5
7
0
Illinois State
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
2
6
10
0
Redbirds salvage series finale against SIU, 6-5
03/31/2018 | 7:19:00 | Baseball
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NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State scored two runs in the ninth inning to walk off with a series-finale win over Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field. SIU (14-13, 2-1 MVC) clinched the series with a doubleheader sweep on Friday, but Illinois State (10-13, 1-2 MVC) avoided a three-game sweep with its comeback win on Saturday.
"It was a good series against a good ball club," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "It's disappointing right now, but we had a good weekend and played well."
SIU led 5-4 heading into the ninth inning. Saluki closer Ryan Netemeyer, who saved both games in the Friday doubleheader, went out for the ninth, attempting to become the first SIU closer since 2007 to save every game of a series. Illinois State took advantage of a leadoff walk and a one-out bloop single to tie the game before a walk-off double gave the Redbirds the win.
"I'm not sure it's fair to run anyone out there to save three games in a 24-hour period; but due to the condensed series, that is the situation we were presented," Henderson said. "He's our guy, and I know he wanted the ball there, and we had and continue to have all the confidence in the world in him."
Illinois State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Just like the first two games, SIU battled back to take a lead after trailing early. Connor Kopach tied the game with a third-inning solo home run, and the Salukis put up three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
"We need to do a better of getting started offensively," Henderson said. "We can't wait until the third or fourth inning every time. We did a good job grinding and taking walks; we just didn't take advantage of them."
After the Redbirds got their first-inning run, SIU starter Brad Harrison settled in and allowed just one hit over the next four innings. Illinois State got within 4-2 after a two-out RBI single in the sixth inning, but Logan Blackfan answered back with a two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh to restore a three-run SIU lead. After Harrison got two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh, Illinois State punched a two-strike single through the right side, and leadoff man John Rave hit a two-run homer to make it a 5-4 game.
"Credit them," Henderson said. "(Harrison) made them earn it, and they did. He got two strikes on the guy, and he hit a back-side single. Obviously, Rave is a nice player, and he put them back in the ballgame."
Trey McDaniel pitched a perfect eighth inning to send SIU to the ninth with the lead. In the top of the ninth, Nikola Vasic drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. Kopach, who is hitting .393 this season, pounded a line drive up the middle but right at Illinois State's second baseman, taking a would-be two-run lead away from SIU and giving the Redbirds an inning-ending double play.
"That's a tough break," Henderson said. "Kopach is the guy you want up there. He absolutely smoked that ball, and it turned into a double play. Maybe today just wasn't our day. We played well and did a lot of great things; but we let them hang around in their yard. We gave them an opportunity, and they took advantage of it."
SIU drew six walks and played error-free, but Illinois State turned three double plays to get out of trouble.
Even after the loss, SIU is 11-5 in its last 16 games. Of the five losses, two were against a nationally ranked Illinois team; two came in extra innings, and today's loss came in the bottom of the ninth.
SIU returns home for a five-game home stand, starting on Tuesday against Austin Peay. The Salukis host Valparaiso next weekend at Itchy Jones Stadium before facing Eastern Illinois the following Tuesday. After that, 10 of Southern's next 13 games are on the road.
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State scored two runs in the ninth inning to walk off with a series-finale win over Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field. SIU (14-13, 2-1 MVC) clinched the series with a doubleheader sweep on Friday, but Illinois State (10-13, 1-2 MVC) avoided a three-game sweep with its comeback win on Saturday.
"It was a good series against a good ball club," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "It's disappointing right now, but we had a good weekend and played well."
SIU led 5-4 heading into the ninth inning. Saluki closer Ryan Netemeyer, who saved both games in the Friday doubleheader, went out for the ninth, attempting to become the first SIU closer since 2007 to save every game of a series. Illinois State took advantage of a leadoff walk and a one-out bloop single to tie the game before a walk-off double gave the Redbirds the win.
"I'm not sure it's fair to run anyone out there to save three games in a 24-hour period; but due to the condensed series, that is the situation we were presented," Henderson said. "He's our guy, and I know he wanted the ball there, and we had and continue to have all the confidence in the world in him."
Illinois State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Just like the first two games, SIU battled back to take a lead after trailing early. Connor Kopach tied the game with a third-inning solo home run, and the Salukis put up three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
"We need to do a better of getting started offensively," Henderson said. "We can't wait until the third or fourth inning every time. We did a good job grinding and taking walks; we just didn't take advantage of them."
After the Redbirds got their first-inning run, SIU starter Brad Harrison settled in and allowed just one hit over the next four innings. Illinois State got within 4-2 after a two-out RBI single in the sixth inning, but Logan Blackfan answered back with a two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh to restore a three-run SIU lead. After Harrison got two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh, Illinois State punched a two-strike single through the right side, and leadoff man John Rave hit a two-run homer to make it a 5-4 game.
"Credit them," Henderson said. "(Harrison) made them earn it, and they did. He got two strikes on the guy, and he hit a back-side single. Obviously, Rave is a nice player, and he put them back in the ballgame."
Trey McDaniel pitched a perfect eighth inning to send SIU to the ninth with the lead. In the top of the ninth, Nikola Vasic drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. Kopach, who is hitting .393 this season, pounded a line drive up the middle but right at Illinois State's second baseman, taking a would-be two-run lead away from SIU and giving the Redbirds an inning-ending double play.
"That's a tough break," Henderson said. "Kopach is the guy you want up there. He absolutely smoked that ball, and it turned into a double play. Maybe today just wasn't our day. We played well and did a lot of great things; but we let them hang around in their yard. We gave them an opportunity, and they took advantage of it."
SIU drew six walks and played error-free, but Illinois State turned three double plays to get out of trouble.
Even after the loss, SIU is 11-5 in its last 16 games. Of the five losses, two were against a nationally ranked Illinois team; two came in extra innings, and today's loss came in the bottom of the ninth.
SIU returns home for a five-game home stand, starting on Tuesday against Austin Peay. The Salukis host Valparaiso next weekend at Itchy Jones Stadium before facing Eastern Illinois the following Tuesday. After that, 10 of Southern's next 13 games are on the road.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lindgren,Jeff (2-2)
L: Netemeyer, Ryan (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Fugitt, Addison 1 ; Epps, Grey 1
HR: Kopach, Connor 1
RBI: Fugitt, Addison 1 ; Kopach, Connor 1 ; Blackfan, Logan 2 ; Lyon, Alex 1
SF: Blackfan, Logan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vasic, Nikola 2 ; Fugitt, Addison 1 ; Kopach, Connor 1 ; Hudson, Brad 1
SB: Vasic, Nikola 1
HBP: Kopach, Connor 1 ; Blackfan, Logan 1 ; Fairfield, Mitch 1
Batting:
2B: Rave,John 1 ; Miller,Owen 1 ; Braithwaite,Collin 1 ; Parola,Derek 1
HR: Rave,John 1
RBI: Rave,John 3 ; Parola,Derek 2 ; Butler,Jack 1
SH: Hutchinson,Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rave,John 1 ; Miller,Owen 1 ; Braithwaite,Collin 1 ; Libman,Jordan 1 ; Zouras,Nick 1 ; Butler,Jack 1
SB: Miller,Owen 1 ; Hutchinson,Ryan 1
PO: Butler,Joe 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
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INF/LHP
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RHP
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RHP
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