Baseball splits doubleheader at Memphis

Sunday, February 24

Memphis, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

1-3

Memphis

2-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	1
Memphis	1	0	2	0	0	2	2	0	X	7	11	0

02/24/2019 | 9:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: By Alex Underwood, SIUSalukis.com

Memphis, Tenn. — The Southern Illinois baseball team split a doubleheader with Memphis on Sunday at FedExPark. After Memphis (2-4) controlled the first game, 7-2, SIU (2-3) jumped out to an early lead in game two and held on to win, 2-1.

The two teams were originally scheduled for a three-game series from Feb. 22-24, but due to weather conditions, the series was changed to a Sunday doubleheader.

"I am proud of our effort", SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "After not playing very well in the first game, we talked about handling adversity and toughness. I thought we came back and showed a lot of toughness in that second game. Finding a way to win that game was huge."

In the opener, Southern led 2-0 in the first inning. Alex Lyon hit an RBI single to shallow left field to score the speedy Nikola Vasic. Philip Archer then scored Ian Walters from third on a groundout to second base. The Tiger pitching trio of Hunter Smith (1-1), Tekoda Metoxen and Alex Smith held SIU scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Memphis offense rallied to score seven unanswered runs to earn the win.

Junior ace Brad Harrison (0-1) started on the mound for SIU and pitched five innings in the loss. He gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out six. Sophomore lefty Blake Begner came in relief for Harrison and was tagged for the remaining four runs of the game in two innings of work.

In game two, three-straight hits from newcomers and a key stolen base helped the Salukis gain a 2-0 advantage in the second inning.

Archer led off the second with a single up the middle and advanced to third off an Aiden McMahan single to right field. Starting catcher Colin Butkiewicz then made his first plate appearance of the season and delivered a hard-hit RBI single to center field, which scored Archer from third.

With no outs in the second, McMahan stole third on a perfectly-timed jump. Addison Fugitt brought McMahan home from third on a sacrifice fly to left field.

The SIU offense was held in check after the second inning, but no further runs were needed due to dominate pitching performances from a pair of Salukis.

Junior hurler Dylan Givens (1-0) made his second-straight weekend start and arguably pitched his best outing at SIU. The John A. Logan transfer allowed just five hits, no earned runs and one walk in a career-high eight innings. He also struck out three Tiger batters.

The lone run given up by Givens came in the sixth, when Memphis' leadoff hitter in the inning, Ben Brooks, reached third off an outfield throwing error. He later scored on a sacrifice fly to center field, which reduced SIU's lead to 2-1.

Givens responded from the shaky sixth by retiring six of his next seven batters faced. He was replaced by closer Trey McDaniel to start the ninth.

McDaniel walked the opening batter of the final inning, but retired the next three to clinch the win and earn his second save of the season.

"Dylan Givens was phenomenal all day long", Henderson said. "We needed that type of outing from Givens in the second game since we are still not swinging the bats like we are capable of. We are going to hit, but until we get that going, we are going to need guys to pitch and play defense. Givens certainly did that and it gave us a huge lift today."

On offense, Archer and Walters both collected a team-high two hits and one double. Both McMahan and Butkiewicz collected their first hits at SIU in the second inning as well. On defense, SIU amassed one error in each game.

The Salukis are back in action on Wednesday at Belmont. The game, previously scheduled for last Tuesday, was moved forward a week due to weather conditions. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.