Southern Illinois University
6-6
Ohio
2-8
Saluki Baseball Sweeps Ohio with 7-4 Win in Final Game of Series
03/05/2023 | 2:51:00 | Baseball
Ryan Rodriguez got the scoring started with a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, his third of the season. Mathieu Vallee added another run on a sac fly in the fourth, and the Salukis led by four after four.
Ohio tallied their first run in the top of the fifth, but the Salukis (6-6) got it right back thanks to an RBI single from Jack Rigoni in the bottom of the sixth.
Ohio's A.J. Rausch hit a two-run double and scored to bring the game to a one-run deficit after the seventh inning.
Third baseman Nate Lyons gave the Salukis some breathing room with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth. SIU led 7-4 heading into the ninth.
Relievers Matthew Steidl and Tanner Lewis both faced runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings with no out but were able to escape both innings unscathed.
Paul Bonzagni (1-1) gave SIU another strong outing from a starter, going 6.1 innings and allowing four runs. He surrendered eight hits, two walks, and struck out four. He earned his first win of the season. Tanner Lewis earned his first save of the season.
Trent Spoon took the loss for the Bobcats, falling to 1-1 on the season.
UP NEXT
Southern Illinois will travel to Edwardsville to play SIUE on Tuesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 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: Bonzagni, Paul (1-1)
L: Spoon, Trent (1-1)
S: Lewis, Tanner (1)
Batting:
2B: Rausch, AJ 1
RBI: Rausch, AJ 3 ; Kasperbauer, Colin 1
SH: Finney, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Antle, Gideon 1 ; Rausch, AJ 1 ; Cutter, Clay 1 ; Dolan, Nick 1
SB: Kasperbauer, Colin 1 ; Sturek, Will 1
HBP: Antle, Gideon 1
Batting:
2B: Rigoni, Jack 1
HR: Rodriguez, Ryan 1
RBI: Rodriguez, Ryan 3 ; Vallee, Mathieu 1 ; Lyons, Nate 2 ; Rigoni, Jack 1
SF: Vallee, Mathieu 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rog, Kaeber 1 ; Rodriguez, Ryan 1 ; Cook, Noah 1 ; Eltoft, Bennett 1 ; Vallee, Mathieu 2 ; Rigoni, Jack 1
SB: Christman, Cole 1 ; Vallee, Mathieu 2 ; Rigoni, Jack 1
HBP: Boucher, Pier-Olivier 1 ; Eltoft, Bennett 1
PO: Christman, Cole 1
