Saturday, March 25
Carbondale, IL
12 PM
Southern Illinois University
10-12, 1-0
6
vs
2
UIC
8-9, 0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
UIC
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
7
0
Southern Illinois
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
3
X
6
10
0
Salukis Sweep Saturday Doubleheader with UIC
03/25/2023 | 5:56:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball swept a doubleheader against UIC at Itchy Jones Stadium on Saturday. They will have an opportunity to sweep their second home series of the season on Sunday.
Game One – SIU 6, UIC 2
The Salukis (11-12) added three important insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure a victory in game one over UIC (8-10).
Kaeber Rog put the Salukis ahead in the first with a two-out double to right center.
UIC tied the game up in the top of the fourth, but Rog put the Salukis right back in the lead with a solo home run to center -- his first of the season.
Amid a pitcher's duel, Bennett Eltoft added a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the seventh, putting the Salukis ahead by two heading into the final two innings. UIC kept fighting and cut it to one in the top of the eighth.
With two-out in the bottom of the eighth, Rog tallied his third RBI of the day with a single down the left field line to put the Salukis up 4-2. Two pitches later, Eltoft hit his second home run of the game -- a two-run shot that gave SIU a four-run lead that they would not lose.
Rog and Eltoft combined for five hits, four runs scored, and all six of the team's RBIs.
Ben Chapman (2-0) earned the win for the Salukis after putting together a strong outing once again, pitching 6.2 innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run. He struck out three of the 25 batters he faced.
Paul Bonzagni earned his second save of the season after going 2.1 innings and allowing one earned run.
Kade Lancour (3-2) took the loss for UIC after four innings pitched and two runs allowed.
Game Two – SIU 3, UIC 1
Pitchers were dealing in game two, but the SIU second baseman Steven Loden broke up the tie in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off two-run home run, and the Salukis completed the doubleheader sweep of UIC.
After a scoreless first five innings, UIC broke the dry spell thanks to a wild pitch with the bases loaded. SIU tied it up in the bottom of the sixth after a sacrifice fly from Ryan Rodriguez.
Both teams had opportunities to break the 1-1 tie, but we were headed towards extras heading into the bottom of the ninth. After a hit-by-pitch to open the inning, Steven Loden walked off with a two-run home run.
Jake Combs delivered a solid start for the Salukis, pitching five innings, allowing zero runs and striking out six after facing 19 batters.
Scott Harper (2-0) earned the win after 2.2 innings in relief allowing zero runs or hits and striking out two.
Matt Zahora (1-1) took the loss for UIC, who could not muster much support for Brandon Bak. Bak pitched 7.2 innings and only allowed one run on five hits and struck out four facing 29 batters.
UP NEXT
The Salukis will look for a series sweep on Sunday when the two teams play the finale beginning at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Baseball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiBaseball and on Instagram at @SIU_Baseball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Game One – SIU 6, UIC 2
The Salukis (11-12) added three important insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure a victory in game one over UIC (8-10).
Kaeber Rog put the Salukis ahead in the first with a two-out double to right center.
UIC tied the game up in the top of the fourth, but Rog put the Salukis right back in the lead with a solo home run to center -- his first of the season.
Amid a pitcher's duel, Bennett Eltoft added a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the seventh, putting the Salukis ahead by two heading into the final two innings. UIC kept fighting and cut it to one in the top of the eighth.
With two-out in the bottom of the eighth, Rog tallied his third RBI of the day with a single down the left field line to put the Salukis up 4-2. Two pitches later, Eltoft hit his second home run of the game -- a two-run shot that gave SIU a four-run lead that they would not lose.
Rog and Eltoft combined for five hits, four runs scored, and all six of the team's RBIs.
Ben Chapman (2-0) earned the win for the Salukis after putting together a strong outing once again, pitching 6.2 innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run. He struck out three of the 25 batters he faced.
Paul Bonzagni earned his second save of the season after going 2.1 innings and allowing one earned run.
Kade Lancour (3-2) took the loss for UIC after four innings pitched and two runs allowed.
Game Two – SIU 3, UIC 1
Pitchers were dealing in game two, but the SIU second baseman Steven Loden broke up the tie in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off two-run home run, and the Salukis completed the doubleheader sweep of UIC.
After a scoreless first five innings, UIC broke the dry spell thanks to a wild pitch with the bases loaded. SIU tied it up in the bottom of the sixth after a sacrifice fly from Ryan Rodriguez.
Both teams had opportunities to break the 1-1 tie, but we were headed towards extras heading into the bottom of the ninth. After a hit-by-pitch to open the inning, Steven Loden walked off with a two-run home run.
Jake Combs delivered a solid start for the Salukis, pitching five innings, allowing zero runs and striking out six after facing 19 batters.
Scott Harper (2-0) earned the win after 2.2 innings in relief allowing zero runs or hits and striking out two.
Matt Zahora (1-1) took the loss for UIC, who could not muster much support for Brandon Bak. Bak pitched 7.2 innings and only allowed one run on five hits and struck out four facing 29 batters.
UP NEXT
The Salukis will look for a series sweep on Sunday when the two teams play the finale beginning at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Baseball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiBaseball and on Instagram at @SIU_Baseball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chapman, Ben (2-0)
L: LANCOUR, Kade (3-2)
S: Bonzagni, Paul (2)
Batting:
2B: SZYKOWNY, Charlie 1 ; GRIMES, Bobby 1
RBI: CONN, Cole 1 ; HENKLE, AJ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SZYKOWNY, Charlie 1 ; GRIMES, Bobby 1
Batting:
2B: Rog, Kaeber 1
HR: Rog, Kaeber 1 ; Eltoft, Bennett 2
RBI: Rog, Kaeber 3 ; Eltoft, Bennett 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Vallee, Mathieu 1 ; Rodriguez, Ryan 1 ; Rog, Kaeber 2 ; Eltoft, Bennett 2
SB: Vallee, Mathieu 1
CS: Eltoft, Bennett 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF
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