Southern Illinois University
6-4
Southeast Missouri
9-3
Late-inning rally pushes SEMO past SIU
03/06/2019 | 6:36:00 | Baseball
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The Southern Illinois baseball team lost 11-9 to Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday afternoon at Capaha Field. SIU (6-4) was in front for the majority of the game, but SEMO (9-3) erupted for six-runs in the eighth inning to take the lead and earn the victory.
"It is a frustrating loss, because when you have a four-run lead in the eighth, you have to win 100% of the time," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "We just didn't finish. I thought we gave them some gifts and I give SEMO credit for taking advantage of those. We did do a lot of great things, but at the end of the day, it comes down to finishing and we didn't do that."
SIU's Noah Farmer controlled the Redhawk lineup in his first four innings of work after coming in for starter Mason Hiser, who was tagged for four runs on eight hits in three innings. But in the eighth with SIU up 9-5, Farmer ran into trouble. The sophomore gave up a leadoff home run to Turner Fritts and hit the next batter, which ended his outing.
"I thought Noah Farmer was good today," Henderson said. "I probably shouldn't have sent him back out in the eighth, but he is a guy we are going to count heavily on all year long and this was his best outing this year.
Later in the eighth with the bases loaded, SEMO batter Tyler Wilbert hit a bases-clearing double off Trey McDaniel to gain their first lead of the game. The Redhawks would go on to add another run to up their advantage to 11-9.
In the top of the ninth, Southern had their final shot to tie or win the game, but went down in order.
"We had two strikes on a lot of guys and just didn't do a good job on finishing off hitters," Henderson said. I think our pitchers have done a great job this year, but today was a struggle. We just have to learn from today and move forward."
The loss spoiled a great day at the plate from Southern's hitters. All nine starters in the lineup reached base and they combined for nine hits.
Grey Epps and Ian Walters each had key at bats for the Salukis.
In the third, Epps crushed a three-run home run over to the left field wall. SIU went on to score five runs in the third and led 6-1 at that point. The homer was his first of the season.
Walters went 2-for-3 on the day and hit a two-out, two-run single to right field in the top of the eighth, which scored Nikola Vasic and Addison Fugitt from second and third.
"It was a big time at bat by Grey early in the game," Henderson said. "And for Walters to expand the lead with two outs was huge. We had a chance to get a run in before and it didn't happen, so for him to plate two in that situation was a good sign."
Southern also wreaked havoc on the base paths with a season-high nine steals. Walters, who came into the game with two steals on the season, stole four bags. The four were the most by a Saluki since Alex Lyon swiped four at Austin Peay last season.
Will LaRue (2), Nikola Vasic, Addison Fugitt and Brad Hudson each stole bases as well. Both of LaRue's came in the third inning when he stole second and third. He later scored in the third on a triple to dead center from Lyon.
"We were extremely aggressive and made a lot of good things happen there," Henderson said.
SIU is back in action this Friday, as they host Northern Illinois from Mar. 8-10 for a three-game set at Itchy Jones Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: GROSSIUS, Bryce (1-0)
L: McDaniel, Trey (0-1)
S: STRETCH, Aaron (1)
Batting:
3B: Lyon, Alex 1
HR: Epps, Grey 1
RBI: Walters, Ian 2 ; Lyon, Alex 1 ; Weber, J.T. 1 ; Epps, Grey 3
SH: Vasic, Nikola 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vasic, Nikola 1 ; LaRue, Will 2 ; Lyon, Alex 1 ; Weber, J.T. 1 ; Ulick, Austin 1 ; Epps, Grey 1 ; Hudson, Brad 1 ; Fugitt, Addison 1
SB: Vasic, Nikola 1 ; LaRue, Will 2 ; Walters, Ian 4 ; Hudson, Brad 1 ; Fugitt, Addison 1
HBP: Walters, Ian 1
Batting:
2B: WILBER, Tyler 1 ; BLAZEVIC, Austin 1
3B: FRITTS, Turner 1
HR: FRITTS, Turner 1
RBI: WRIGHT, Danny 1 ; WILBER, Tyler 3 ; BLAZEVIC, Austin 2 ; KECK, Andrew 1 ; FRITTS, Turner 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BASLER, Connor 2 ; WRIGHT, Danny 2 ; WILBER, Tyler 2 ; BLAZEVIC, Austin 1 ; KECK, Andrew 1 ; FRITTS, Turner 1 ; NIELSEN, Alex 1 ; WILSON, Devon 1
SB: KECK, Andrew 2
HBP: NIELSEN, Alex 1
