DBU rallies to take series opener, 7-4

Friday, April 13

Dallas, Texas

6:30 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

18-15, 4-3

Dallas Baptist

21-10, 3-1

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

04/13/2018 | 10:06:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: By John Lock | SIUSalukis.com

DALLAS, Texas - No. 25 Dallas Baptist scored six runs in the seventh inning to win the series opener over Southern Illinois, 7-4. SIU entered the bottom of the seventh with a 4-1 lead, but the Patriots scored six runs--five with two outs--to win the series opener.

"We battled and competed as hard as we have all year," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "We had one bad inning where we left a couple balls up in the zone, and they took advantage of it. We played really well. We had some key hits and played good defense. Michael Baird competed his rear end off for us and gave us a chance. We just couldn't finish it."

SIU took an early 2-0 lead. Addison Fugitt hit an opposite-field homer in the first inning, and Grey Epps hit a clutch two-out RBI single in the second inning to extend the lead. Austin Ulick (sixth inning) and Connor Kopach (seventh inning) also hit two-out RBI singles to give Southern Illinois a 4-1 lead at the seventh-inning stretch.

The Salukis and Patriots played in front of 1,651 fans at Horner Ballpark, the seventh-largest crowd in Horner Ballpark history.

"We tried to grind out ABs against a good club in a tough environment," Henderson said. "We put ourselves in a position to win. I couldn't be more proud of our effort. We just have to find a way to finish those."

Michael Baird started for SIU and was outstanding in the loss. He pitched around trouble for most of the night, holding the high-powered Patriots without a run until the sixth inning. He allowed just three runs (one earned) in six innings while striking out six.

"He competed," Henderson said of Baird. "He wasn't as sharp as he has been at times, but he's a senior out there on the mound on a big stage, and I couldn't be more proud of the way he competed."

Baird pitched into the seventh and left with a 4-2 lead with two on and nobody out. Trey McDaniel entered in relief and got a double-play ball, but DBU followed with a two-out RBI single to climb within 4-3. After a walk, DBU catcher Matt Duce hit a towering shot over the foul pole, which was ruled foul, prompting an argument from DBU head coach Dan Heefner. On the next pitch, Duce made the argument obsolete with a three-run homer to right field. Shorstop Jimmy Glowenke followed with a homer to set the final score at 7-4.

Fugitt went 3-for-4 in the game, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Ulick reached in all four plate appearances, drawing three walks to go along with his RBI single. Logan Blackfan extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a double. The start of the game was delayed 75 minutes due to lightning but was uninterrupted after it was underway.

SIU and DBU will play the second game of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Left-hander Jamison Steege will take the mound for SIU.