Baseball bounces back to down Northern Illinois, 8-6

Sunday, March 10

Carbondale, Ill.

1 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

8-5

Northern Illinois

3-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Northern Illinois	0	0	0	0	2	1	3	0	0	6	7	0
Southern Illinois	0	2	3	0	2	0	0	1	X	8	16	2

03/10/2019 | 5:28:00 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

By: By Tom Weber, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The back end of the bullpen came through for Southern Illinois on Sunday as it held off Northern Illinois, 8-6, to win the rubber match of a three-game series.

The Salukis (8-5) built a 7-3 lead and were up, 7-6, in the seventh when Corey Mitson and Trey McDaniel slammed the door on the Huskies (3-11) with three innings of hitless relief. McDaniel picked up his fourth save of the season.

Mitson entered the game in the seventh after Saluki pitchers walked the first four batters. He jumped ahead of left fielder Kam Smith, 0-2, then got him to ground into a bases-loaded double play. Mitson retired the next batter on a pop up to preserve a 7-6 lead.

"Those were the biggest plays of the game without a doubt," said SIU head coach Ken Henderson. "For a freshman to come in the game in that situation with all of the chaos going on, to get a double play and a pop up, he minimized the damage."

Mitson retired the side in order in the top of the eighth, and McDaniel worked a hitless ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Southern received another quality start from left-hander Blake Begner (2-1), who pitched 5.0 innings, allowed four hits, two runs and struck out six. Both runs came in the top of the fifth and he was removed to start the sixth inning after throwing 95 pitches.

"Begner was really, really good," Henderson said. "His pitch count got up, which is why we had to get him out."

Southern's offense cranked out a season-high 16 hits, including nine hits from the bottom four batters in the lineup. Shortstop Grey Epps, the No. 8 hitter, went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBI. First baseman J.T. Weber went 2-for-4, catcher Colin Butkiewicz belted his first career home run, and right fielder Addison Fugitt came in as a pinch hitter, went 2-for-2 and drove in a run.

Fugitt also made the game's highlight reel defensive play. With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the sixth, NIU designated hitter Nick Drobushevich drove a ball deep to right, but Fugitt made a sensational leaping grab on the warning path to save three runs.

"Defensively, he can go get it — he's freaky athletic," Henderson said. "He's a guy who's been here two-and-a-half years, has made adjustments, and is hitting the ball to the opposite field and up the middle and is really playing well."

In addition to six extra-base hits, the offense recorded five more stolen bases, giving the team 45 on the year.

"It was one of our best days of the year on offense, not only in terms of number of hits but in execution and our approach," Henderson said.

The win was especially gratifying for the team after last night's 17-2 loss.

"To have what happened to us last night and bounce back less than 24 hours later and play like we did today, I'm awfully proud of our kids and their toughness," Henderson said.