Salukis come from behind to beat Evansville, 5-4

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Southern Illinois baseball team scored three runs in the ninth inning to secure a come-from-behind 5-4 win at Evansville on Saturday afternoon at Braun Stadium. The Salukis (23-20, 6-5 MVC) clinched their third MVC series win of the year.

"We didn't quit," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "It wasn't the prettiest thing in the world, and it was a struggle all day offensively, but we kept battling. In the end, we found a way."

Evansville (7-29, 1-10 MVC) scored all its runs in the first two innings. In the first inning, the Aces got three unearned runs after a two-out error, and they added a run in the second inning. SIU starter Jamison Steege battled through the tough start and made it through six innings allowing just one earned run. Noah Farmer pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Steege and earned the win. After SIU scored three in the top of the ninth to take the lead, Ryan Netemeyer earned his eighth save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

"We did a really good job on the mound," Henderson said. "We kept throwing up zeros. Jamison did a really good job. He ran into tough luck in the first inning, but did a really good job after that. Noah did a great job and got out of a jam in the seventh. Kudos to our pitchers for giving our offense a chance."

Drew Curtis (single), Austin Ulick (walk) and Grey Epps (RBI single) combined to get a run back in the second inning. In the third, SIU executed a double-steal with runners on first and second; Evansville threw to second base, and no one covered to give SIU another run.

Those were Southern's only runs until the ninth inning. Farmer gave the offense a chance with two scoreless frames. In the seventh, UE put two runners on with no outs after an infield single and an error. Farmer got the lead runner on a would-be sacrifice bunt attempt, which kept a run off the board after the next batter hit a fly-out to right field. Farmer has a 1.80 ERA over his last two appearances (five innings), and his season ERA is at its lowest point of the season.

"He looks comfortable out there," Henderson said of Farmer. "He has gained confidence. He's not throwing like a freshman right now. He's throwing like someone who knows he belongs out there. We knew he was going to be really good, and he's becoming that guy right now."

SIU had the bottom of the order due up in the ninth inning, but Addison Fugitt drew a one-out walk and Epps hit a single. Brad Harrison pinch hit and drew a walk to turn the lineup over to the top of the order. Nikola Vasic drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to get SIU within 4-3. Alex Lyon tied the game on a swinging bunt that went foul but spun back fair. Then, Connor Kopach hit a sacrifice fly to give Southern its first lead of the day.

"It worked out perfectly," Henderson said. "We turned the lineup over. Over the last month, Grey Epps has been clutch for us. He has always been good on defense, and he's figuring it out offensively. There's nobody else you want up in that situation (tie game, bases loaded) than Kopach. You know he's going to put the ball in play. He's going to grind and find a way. He's not going to chase."

Netemeyer recorded his 36th career save with the scoreless ninth inning, moving him into second place in Missouri Valley Conference history in career saves. SIU improved to 19-4 (.826) against unranked teams since March 5. The Salukis clinched their third MVC series win in four tries this season.

The Salukis will go for the series sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Brad Harrison will take the mound for Southern Illinois.

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