Southern Illinois University
18-7
UT Martin
7-15
Salukis run-rule Skyhawks, 14-2
03/29/2022 | 8:19:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University baseball team run-ruled the UT Martin Skyhawks, 14-2 in seven innings Thursday at Itchy Jones Stadium.
Southern (18-7) got to UT Martin's pitching early and often. After a scoreless first for both teams, the Salukis erupted for five runs in the second, eight in the third and added a solo run in the fifth. The plethora of runs were more than enough for SIU's four pitchers, who combined to give up just two runs on three hits.
Jake Combs had his most effective outing as a Saluki to improve to 2-0 on the season. Combs went four innings and allowed just two earned runs on two hits. He struck out five, which included the first four batters that he faced, and walked just one. Jake Kuntzendorf, Jordan Bloemer and Jordan Gould each pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
The Salukis got on the board first with their five run second inning. SIU's first four hitters reached base safely in the frame, highlighted by Evan Martin's bases-clearing triple. Ryan Rodriguez brought Martin in to score two pitches later with a RBI-groundout. Grey Epps followed with a single, then stole second and later came around to score on a single by Cody Cleveland.
SIU one-upped itself in the third, as it sent 12 hitters to the plate and plated eight runs on five hits. Southern drew three-straight one-out walks to load the bases and Epps, Cleveland, Weber and Boucher each delivered RBI-singles.
Epps added his third hit of the evening - a solo home run in the fifth- to close out the scoring for Southern.
SIU tallied 15 hits, which marked the 17th time in 25 games this season that the Salukis have tallied double-digit hits. Eight different Salukis recorded a base knock in the win, which included five with multiple hits. Epps went 3-for-3 with a home run and 3 RBI while Boucher was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI. Cleveland, Weber and Rodriguez each added two hits in the win.
The Salukis open Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend when they host the Bradley Braves. Game one of the three-game series is set for Friday, April 1 at 6 p.m. All three games can be viewed on ESPN3.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Combs, Jake (2-0)
L: HOBSON, J. Henry (0-1)
Batting:
HR: LAFOLLETTE, Wil 1 ; MCLEAN, Hunter 1
RBI: LAFOLLETTE, Wil 1 ; MCLEAN, Hunter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LAFOLLETTE, Wil 1 ; MCLEAN, Hunter 1
Batting:
3B: Martin, Evan 1
HR: Epps, Grey 1
RBI: Cleveland, Cody 2 ; Weber, J.T. 1 ; Boucher, Pier-Olivier 1 ; Hagedorn, Nick 1 ; Martin, Evan 3 ; Rodriguez, Ryan 2 ; Epps, Grey 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Cleveland, Cody 1 ; Weber, J.T. 1 ; Boucher, Pier-Olivier 2 ; Bandy, Nathan 2 ; Hagedorn, Nick 2 ; Martin, Evan 2 ; Rodriguez, Ryan 1 ; Epps, Grey 3
SB: Epps, Grey 1
