Salukis shut out NIU to take opener, 4-0

Friday, March 9

Carbondale, Ill.

3 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

6-8

Northern Illinois

4-8

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

03/09/2018 | 7:51:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: By John Lock | SIUSalukis.com

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CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois baseball program pitched its third shutout in the last seven games and took the series opener from Northern Illinois, 4-0. Michael Baird pitched eighth shutout innings, and Ryan Netemeyer finished the win with a scoreless ninth.

"We didn't do anything spectacular, but we were extremely solid," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "We did a lot of things well. We grinded out ABs, and obviously Michael on the mound was outstanding. He did a great job and gave our offense a chance to get going."

Baird struck out seven an didn't issue a walk. Netemeyer worked around a one-out double in the ninth to preserve the shutout. NIU (4-8) only advanced two runners to third base, one in the third inning and another in the ninth.

"No walks, that's the key," Henderson said. "We have to throw strikes; we have to play good defense; we have to grind out ABs. I thought we did all three really well tonight."

SIU opened the scoring in the fourth inning. Alex Lyon (single), Hunter Anderson (walk) and Kenton Crawford (single) loaded the bases with one out, and Austin Ulick came through with a sacrifice fly. In the fifth, SIU tacked on three more runs on five more singles.

Nikola Vasic singled, stole second, and scored on an Addison Fugitt single. Then Fugitt stole second and scored on Logan Blackfan's RBI single, Lyon added the third run on an RBI single. For the game, SIU didn't have an extra-base hit but stole four bases, and three of those runs scored.

"That's the kind ball club we are, and that's what kind of ball club we need to be," Henderson said. "You saw our speed today. We have six or seven guys in the lineup who can really run; and it's not just stealing bases. It's going first-to-third on a single and putting pressure on the defense. That's what we have to be."

SIU (6-8) won its third-straight game after starting the year 3-8. In all three wins, Henderson has moved Connor Kopach to the third spot in the lineup. Kopach had started 124 of the previous 126 games in the leadoff spot. As part of the switch, Lyon has hit in the five-hole of the lineup. All three — Kopach, Blackfan, and Lyon — are hitting at least .390 on the season.

"It puts a really good hitter behind (Logan) Blackfan, and I don't know that we've had that," Henderson said. "You can't pitch around Blackfan because Alex Lyon will hurt you. Protecting (Blackfan) has been huge. I like where it's at, and I think we will stick with it."

SCHEDULE NOTE

SIU and NIU will finish the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at noon. Sunday's game was moved up to Saturday due to forecasted weather on Sunday.