Illinois State takes series finale over SIU, 8-4

Sunday, April 21

Carbondale, Ill.

1 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

17-19, 1-8

Illinois State

25-15, 8-1

Illinois State

Southern Illinois

04/21/2019 | 6:23:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: By John Lock | SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Illinois State baseball team pounded out 16 hits to earn an 8-4 win over Southern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Itchy Jones Stadium. The Redbirds swept the three-game series and are the Missouri Valley Conference leaders after three weekends.

Southern Illinois (17-19, 1-8 MVC) trailed 7-1 in the middle of the sixth inning but scored once in the sixth and twice in the seventh to get within 8-4. SIU loaded the bases in the ninth inning with one out to bring the tying run to the plate, but the Redbirds (25-15, 8-1 MVC) got a groundout and a strikeout to complete the sweep, sending SIU to its seventh-straight loss.

"When something like this is happening, and you're not playing well, it snowballs and is contagious," SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. "It's everybody. We have to coach better, and we have to play better. Everyone has to look in the mirror and figure it out. We're capable of being much better. We have to show up every day to get better until we get through it. It's not easy; I know that; but each individual has to do a better job."

The Salukis took the lead on an error in the first inning but failed to capitalize on leadoff doubles in the second and third innings. SIU, which had been outstanding this year with a runner on third and less than two outs, went 0-for-4 in those situations today.

Illinois State star John Rave hit a two-run homer in the third inning to give the Redbirds a 2-1 lead. After going 0-for-5 yesterday, Rave opened the game with a bunt single, leading the way to a 5-for-6 day at the plate with a double and home run. The top three hitters in Illinois State's order went 10-for-15 today. Illinois State's hitters controlled the day, even becoming the first team in Justin Yeager's 35 career appearances to get two earned runs on the SIU flamethrowing right-hander.

"We made too many mistakes early in the game," Henderson said. "We didn't execute on offense, and we didn't execute on the bump. We have to play better baseball."

Nikola Vasic and Ian Walters each had two-hit games, leading the way for an SIU offense that had nine hits, the most for the club in the last nine games. But the Salukis also had 13 strikeoust and went 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

"We're inconsistent at the plate," Henderson said. "The same guy will take a good swing one time but not the next time. It's not the pitching; it's what we're doing wrong. We're getting ourselves out. We didn't have plate discipline today; we swung at too many breaking balls in the dirt."

Trey McDaniel was outstanding out of the bullpen for SIU, pitching two perfect innings while striking out four down the stretch. He only needed 23 pitches for his two innings, 17 of which went for strikes.

Southern Illinois has lost seven-straight games after improving to 17-12 on April 9. Southern's next opportunity to snap the slide is Tuesday vs. Arkansas State at Itchy Jones Stadium. SIU is looking for a season sweep of Arkansas State after a 4-3 win in Jonesboro earlier in the year. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.