Tuesday, February 18
Nashville, Tenn.
4 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
3-2
3
at
4
Belmont
2-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Southern Illinois
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
3
6
0
Belmont
0
0
2
0
1
1
0
0
X
4
6
3
Salukis fall at Belmont, 4-3
02/18/2020 | 8:15:00 | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Belmont pitching limited Southern Illinois to six hits en route to a 4-3 win over the Salukis on Tuesday evening at E.S. Rose Park.
"Our pitchers threw strikes and gave us a chance," head coach Lance Rhodes said. "We just didn't get anything going offensively. We made a huge baserunning mistake in the eighth inning. If we didn't do that, I would've really liked our chances to tie the game."
The Bruins (2-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead over SIU (3-2) in the bottom of the third. Blake Begner came in to pitch the third after consecutive scoreless frames from starting pitcher Mason Hiser and Brad Harrison. He appeared to get out of the third unscathed, as he struck out Tommy Crider for the third out, but the Belmont hitter reached first on a passed ball to keep the inning alive. The missed opportunity led to two unearned runs charged to Begner.
Timely baserunning helped Southern tie the game, 2-2, in the next inning. Lucas Danielewicz walked and came around to score on a double steal. Addison Fugitt singled, reached second base on the double steal and scored on an error by the first baseman.
The Bruins took back the lead, 4-2, with single runs in the fifth and sixth inning off freshman relievers Michael Fossali (0-1) and Kyle Dixon. Belmont threatened to extend the Saluki deficit in the seventh, as they loaded the bases with one out. However, freshman pitcher Mitchell Jackson got out of the jam by retiring the next two batters with a strikeout and groundout.
"I thought several of our guys looked good on the mound," Rhodes said. "Harrison and Hiser started strong and Begner had moments where he was solid. Mitchell Jackson look good again and so did Trey McDaniel. It was a collective group. The pitching staff was solid all night long."
SIU minimized its deficit to one run in the top of the eighth, as Nick Neville and Philip Archer hit consecutive singles. Neville scored from second base on an error, but Archer was thrown out attempting to reach third base.
Belmont pitcher Kyle Brennan closed the game in the ninth with a one-two-three outing.
The Saluki offense was limited to a season low in hits (6) and runs (3) in the loss. Starting pitcher Andy Bean allowed two runs in 5.0 innings to earn the win.
Neville stood out offensively, as he batted 3-for-4 with one double and one run. It was the third-straight game the senior recorded three hits.
For the second-straight game, the Saluki defense had no errors. Ian Walters impressed at third base with several key plays.
"Ian Walters was rock solid at third base making play after play. We just came up short offensively," Rhodes said. "We're struggling a little with the bats, but it's going to come."
Saluki Baseball will next compete at the Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament from Feb. 21-23 in San Diego, Calif. SIU will play Arizona (Feb. 21), USC (Feb. 22) and Seattle (Feb. 23) at the tournament.
"Our pitchers threw strikes and gave us a chance," head coach Lance Rhodes said. "We just didn't get anything going offensively. We made a huge baserunning mistake in the eighth inning. If we didn't do that, I would've really liked our chances to tie the game."
The Bruins (2-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead over SIU (3-2) in the bottom of the third. Blake Begner came in to pitch the third after consecutive scoreless frames from starting pitcher Mason Hiser and Brad Harrison. He appeared to get out of the third unscathed, as he struck out Tommy Crider for the third out, but the Belmont hitter reached first on a passed ball to keep the inning alive. The missed opportunity led to two unearned runs charged to Begner.
Timely baserunning helped Southern tie the game, 2-2, in the next inning. Lucas Danielewicz walked and came around to score on a double steal. Addison Fugitt singled, reached second base on the double steal and scored on an error by the first baseman.
The Bruins took back the lead, 4-2, with single runs in the fifth and sixth inning off freshman relievers Michael Fossali (0-1) and Kyle Dixon. Belmont threatened to extend the Saluki deficit in the seventh, as they loaded the bases with one out. However, freshman pitcher Mitchell Jackson got out of the jam by retiring the next two batters with a strikeout and groundout.
"I thought several of our guys looked good on the mound," Rhodes said. "Harrison and Hiser started strong and Begner had moments where he was solid. Mitchell Jackson look good again and so did Trey McDaniel. It was a collective group. The pitching staff was solid all night long."
SIU minimized its deficit to one run in the top of the eighth, as Nick Neville and Philip Archer hit consecutive singles. Neville scored from second base on an error, but Archer was thrown out attempting to reach third base.
Belmont pitcher Kyle Brennan closed the game in the ninth with a one-two-three outing.
The Saluki offense was limited to a season low in hits (6) and runs (3) in the loss. Starting pitcher Andy Bean allowed two runs in 5.0 innings to earn the win.
Neville stood out offensively, as he batted 3-for-4 with one double and one run. It was the third-straight game the senior recorded three hits.
For the second-straight game, the Saluki defense had no errors. Ian Walters impressed at third base with several key plays.
"Ian Walters was rock solid at third base making play after play. We just came up short offensively," Rhodes said. "We're struggling a little with the bats, but it's going to come."
Saluki Baseball will next compete at the Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament from Feb. 21-23 in San Diego, Calif. SIU will play Arizona (Feb. 21), USC (Feb. 22) and Seattle (Feb. 23) at the tournament.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BEAN, Andy (1-0)
L: Fossali, Michael (0-1)
S: BRENNAN, Kyle (1)
Batting:
2B: Neville, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Neville, Nick 1 ; Danielewicz, Lucas 1 ; Fugitt, Addison 1
SB: Danielewicz, Lucas 1 ; Fugitt, Addison 1
HBP: Walters, Ian 1
Batting:
2B: ADKINS, Chandler 1
RBI: CRIDER, Tommy 1 ; LOWRY, Drew 1
SH: CAPOBIANCO, Jack 1
SF: LOWRY, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BEHRENDS, John 2 ; HEATON, Brodey 1 ; ADKINS, Chandler 1
SB: BEHRENDS, John 1 ; CAMPBELL, Jackson 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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