Southern Illinois University
6-0
Mercer
3-3
Salukis improve to 6-0, clinch series at Mercer
02/27/2021 | 4:18:00 | Baseball
The Salukis (6-0) started hot with a three-run first inning. In yesterday's win, Philip Archer and Nick Neville combined to go 8-for-11 with three homers and two doubles. Today, when those two came up with first base open in the first inning, Mercer (3-3) intentionally walked them. But Southern's lineup is relentless, and the Salukis brought home the runs on RBIs by Tristan Peters, Nick Blubaugh, and J.T. Weber.Â
SIU added a run in the second, but Mercer came back to tie it with a four-run bottom of the second. Tanner Lewis came in from the bullpen and settled things down for the Salukis. In his first Division I outing, Lewis pitched three shutout innings and earned the win. He struck out the side in the second and ended his outing with six strikeouts, allowing just one hit, one walk, and one HBP.Â
While Lewis silenced Mercer's lineup, SIU took control of the game with a four-run fifth inning. Peters hit an RBI double, and Vinni Massaglia followed with a three-run pinch hit homer. Archer hit a two-run homer in the seventh to push SIU's lead to 10-4. Mercer scored a run in the seventh, but that was the only run the Bears got in seven innings against SIU's bullpen.Â
Gage O'Brien was lights out, striking out seven in three innings, and Trey McDaniel struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning. In all, SIU pitching struck out 17 Mercer batters on the day.Â
The series win is an impressive one for the Salukis. Mercer is one of only four programs in the nation to win 35+ games in 10-straight seasons, joining LSU, Vanderblit, and Florida State. And the Bears might extend that streak this year. They opened the season with three consecutive shutouts to sweep opening weekend.Â
UP NEXT: SIU will go for the sweep on Sunday at Noon CT. Ben Chapman will start on the mound for the Salukis.
NOTES: SIU's 6-0 start is its second-best ever. The 1967 Salukis started 11-0. No other SIU team has started better than 4-0, until this year ... SIU has won 11-straight games, dating back to last year ... Ian Walters extended his reached base streak to 27 games, which dates back to the 2019 season ... Philip Archer extended his reached base streak to 17 games, dating back to last year ... SIU pitching's 17 strikeouts were the most by the Salukis since March 12, 2005, vs. Chicago State. That day, SIU Hall of Famer P.J. Finigan struck out 17 in 7 innings, and the Salukis had 19 strikeouts in the game.
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This story will be updated.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lewis, Tanner (1-0)
L: Taylor Lobus (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Peters, Tristan 1 ; Archer, Philip 1
HR: Massaglia, Vinni 1 ; Archer, Philip 1
RBI: Walters, Ian 1 ; Peters, Tristan 2 ; Blubaugh, Nick 1 ; Massaglia, Vinni 3 ; Archer, Philip 2 ; Weber, J.T. 2
SF: Weber, J.T. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Walters, Ian 1 ; Martin, Evan 2 ; Neville, Nick 1 ; Peters, Tristan 3 ; Massaglia, Vinni 2 ; Archer, Philip 1 ; Cleveland, Cody 1
SB: Martin, Evan 1
CS: Archer, Philip 1
HBP: Walters, Ian 1 ; Martin, Evan 1 ; Massaglia, Vinni 1
Batting:
2B: Angelo DiSpigna 1
HR: Angelo DiSpigna 1 ; RJ Yeager 1 ; Garett Delano 1 ; Ryan Archibald 1
RBI: Angelo DiSpigna 2 ; RJ Yeager 1 ; Garett Delano 1 ; Ryan Archibald 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Angelo DiSpigna 1 ; RJ Yeager 1 ; Garett Delano 1 ; Ryan Archibald 1 ; Collin Price 1
HBP: Ryan Archibald 1
