Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis take down John A. Logan in scrimmage
10/17/2019 | 9:03:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois baseball team won a pair of contests against John A. Logan in a scrimmage at Itchy Jones Stadium on Thursday night. SIU won the initial nine-inning scrimmage 6-4, which was followed immediately by four more innings, which SIU won 6-0.Â
"From the first inning to the 13th, everyone was locked in," SIU head coach Lance Rhodes said. "We got everyone in the game. Some of the new guys got opportunities for the first time at the Division I level to compete against another uniform. They responded well. We made some big plays when we needed to and some big pitches when we needed to. We had some big hits in the right moments. But the biggest thing was, we were locked in for 13 innings."
In a scrimmage against a high-caliber John A. Logan team that features several high-major committed players, the opener was low scoring until the sixth inning, with a JAL first-inning solo homer providing the game's only scoring in the opening five frames. SIU pitchers Mason Hiser and Blake Benger were outstanding, combining to strike out 11 and walking none in six innings, with the home run being the only hit allowed.Â
"What Hiser did was exactly what you expect a senior to do," Rhodes said. "He gave up a home run, but it didn't affect him. He threw two more innings without giving up a run. Sometimes, at a younger age, that home run can get you out of your game, but he went right back to work. Begner's stuff was as good tonight as it has all fall. It was really crisp, and his velo was good. Those guys took us through six innings and allowed us to get into our bullpen."
Addison Fugitt outstanding in every facet of the game. Defensively, he made two huge plays; he made a diving catch in right field and also threw out a runner at the plate later in the game. Offensively, he had three hits and two stolen bases. His two-run RBI single in the seventh inning proved to be the difference in the 6-4 final.Â
Ian Walters tied the game with a solo homer in the sixth inning, which started a four-run inning for SIU to take a 4-1 lead. After Fugitt's two-run single gave SIU a 6-1 lead, Logan threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs. The Vols brought all three runs home with two singles, but SIU closer Trey McDaniel limited the damage and pitched a perfect ninth inning to preserve the save.Â
"Both (Walters and Fugitt) had mature at-bats all day long," Rhodes said. "With those guys being seniors in the program, that's what you hope, that they bring those mature at-bats to a game. At those moments, we had those guys up at the right time, and they came up with big hits. Ian got us on the board for the first time, and Addy had really good at-bats all night. The maturity showed tonight."
After the first nine innings, the teams played a less formal final four frames, with free substitutions. Nick Neville and Tony Rask hit homers for SIU; and Michael Fossali, Corey Mitson, Matthew Steidl, and Mitchell Jackson all pitched scoreless innings.Â
SIU's second and final fall scrimmage is next Friday, October 25, at 4 p.m. against Dyersburg State in Itchy Jones Stadium.Â
"From the first inning to the 13th, everyone was locked in," SIU head coach Lance Rhodes said. "We got everyone in the game. Some of the new guys got opportunities for the first time at the Division I level to compete against another uniform. They responded well. We made some big plays when we needed to and some big pitches when we needed to. We had some big hits in the right moments. But the biggest thing was, we were locked in for 13 innings."
In a scrimmage against a high-caliber John A. Logan team that features several high-major committed players, the opener was low scoring until the sixth inning, with a JAL first-inning solo homer providing the game's only scoring in the opening five frames. SIU pitchers Mason Hiser and Blake Benger were outstanding, combining to strike out 11 and walking none in six innings, with the home run being the only hit allowed.Â
"What Hiser did was exactly what you expect a senior to do," Rhodes said. "He gave up a home run, but it didn't affect him. He threw two more innings without giving up a run. Sometimes, at a younger age, that home run can get you out of your game, but he went right back to work. Begner's stuff was as good tonight as it has all fall. It was really crisp, and his velo was good. Those guys took us through six innings and allowed us to get into our bullpen."
Addison Fugitt outstanding in every facet of the game. Defensively, he made two huge plays; he made a diving catch in right field and also threw out a runner at the plate later in the game. Offensively, he had three hits and two stolen bases. His two-run RBI single in the seventh inning proved to be the difference in the 6-4 final.Â
Ian Walters tied the game with a solo homer in the sixth inning, which started a four-run inning for SIU to take a 4-1 lead. After Fugitt's two-run single gave SIU a 6-1 lead, Logan threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs. The Vols brought all three runs home with two singles, but SIU closer Trey McDaniel limited the damage and pitched a perfect ninth inning to preserve the save.Â
"Both (Walters and Fugitt) had mature at-bats all day long," Rhodes said. "With those guys being seniors in the program, that's what you hope, that they bring those mature at-bats to a game. At those moments, we had those guys up at the right time, and they came up with big hits. Ian got us on the board for the first time, and Addy had really good at-bats all night. The maturity showed tonight."
After the first nine innings, the teams played a less formal final four frames, with free substitutions. Nick Neville and Tony Rask hit homers for SIU; and Michael Fossali, Corey Mitson, Matthew Steidl, and Mitchell Jackson all pitched scoreless innings.Â
SIU's second and final fall scrimmage is next Friday, October 25, at 4 p.m. against Dyersburg State in Itchy Jones Stadium.Â
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