Salukis run away from Belmont, 10-4

Tuesday, March 26

Carbondale, Ill.

5 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

14-9

Belmont

12-12

Belmont

Southern Illinois

03/26/2019 | 10:35:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: By John Lock | SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois baseball program jumped out to an 8-0 lead en route to a 10-4 victory over Belmont on Tuesday evening at Itchy Jones Stadium. SIU improved to 11-2 at home, the program's best home start since 2007.

"I'm not a big art guy, but it wasn't a Rembrandt or Picasso, but it was a win," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "We did some good things, but there are obviously some things we can clean up and do a lot better. We had some people step up."

SIU starter Matthew Steidl was masterful in his second career start. He allowed just two hits over five shutout innings, needing just 68 pitches to retire the Bruins (12-12).

"He pounded the zone. If you throw strikes, you're going to have success, especially in mid-week games," Henderson said. "He did a great job of that today, and that was the key to the game. We knew it was going to be a bullpen day. We knew we were a little short on the bump, and we needed someone to run out there and keep us in the game for a few innings. He did everything we asked him to do."

Postgame Interviews » Henderson | Lyon | Steidl

The Salukis stole seven bases in the game, running their season total to 70 stolen bases. The pressure also helped force errors on a bunt, a failed pickoff, and a triple, three of Belmont's six errors in the game.

"Our base running was a big part of it, too," Henderson said. "We got guys in scoring position by staying aggressive. That's every game for us."

Offensively, Alex Lyon led the way with a 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 stolen base game.

"He's a guy that is streaky; but when he gets hot, he can get hot in a hurry and carry us," Henderson said. "We kept putting him out there waiting on that day; and hopefully, this is that day, a three-hit day. He's a very talented hitter and someone we need in the lineup if we are going to do what we want to do in the league."

SIU scored once in each of the first three innings before blowing the game open with a five-run fifth. Lyon drove home the first two runs with a double, and Brad Hudson hit a two-run triple off the wall in left center, then scored on a throwing error.

Belmont took advantage of a couple defensive miscues to get within 8-4 in the eighth inning, but SIU put the game away with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth.

The Salukis are 5-1 in mid-week games this year and have won 13 of their last 16 games against unranked teams.

SIU travels to Butler for a three-game series against the Bulldogs this weekend in Indianapolis.

"I'm glad we're going on the road, to be honest," Henderson said. "We're getting ready to go into league play. One of the things we're going to address as a team is that you have to learn how to win on the road. If you're going to do what you want to do in the league, you have to learn how to win on the road."

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Diving play behind the bag at third by Ian Walters checks in at No. 7 on the SportsCenter Top 10. @Ianwalters_7 // #Salukis pic.twitter.com/EnrZBNg2qr
— Saluki Baseball (@SIU_Baseball) March 27, 2019