Southern Illinois University
17-13, 0
Belmont
18-13, 0
Schark Powers Salukis Past Belmont in Walk-Off Fashion
04/06/2023 | 9:26:00 | Baseball
????????. ????. ??????.@matt_schark homers in the 11th and the #Salukis take the opener over Belmont. pic.twitter.com/1z30dbHjUY
— Saluki Baseball (@SIU_Baseball) April 7, 2023
Southern's bats were led by Nathan Bandy once again as the leadoff man tallied three base hits in the win while Pier-Olivier Boucher and Cole Christman tacked on two hits apiece. It marked the sixth-straight multi-hit game for Boucher.
Bandy stayed hot with a leadoff double in the first, setting the table for Ryan Rodriguez to knock him in with an RBI single. Belmont took the lead on a wild pitch and a base hit in the top of the second for a 2-1 advantage. The lead lasted all of one SIU batter as Steven Loden hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second. It was Loden's tenth of the season which leads the team and is second in The Valley.
SIU held a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Cole Christman led off the inning with a solo home run, his seventh of the season. The Saluki lead grew again thanks to an RBI single from Pier-Olivier Boucher.
The Bruins inched closer after back-to-back RBIs from Jack Rando and Sam Slaughter in the top of the eighth, putting pressure on the Salukis as the lead was just one heading into the ninth inning.
Mason Landers tied the game with an RBI single, and after SIU failed to score in the bottom of the inning the game was headed to extras.
In the bottom of the eleventh, Matt Schark, who was 0-for-4 entering the at bat, hit a walk-off solo home run, ending the game and giving the Salukis a 7-6 victory. All five of Schark's home runs this season have come at Itchy Jones Stadium.
Scott Harper and Paul Bonzagni led a strong night for the SIU bullpen. Harper pitched 3.1 innings, allowed two earned runs, three hits, one walk, and struck out four. Bonzagni (4-2) earned his fourth victory after 3.1 innings, allowing one earned run, two hits, one walk, and striking out four.
Saluki starting pitcher Ben Chapman struck out three and allowed three earned runs on seven hits facing 20 batters in the no decision.
Ethan Harden (1-1) took the loss for Belmont. Second baseman Jack Rando reached base four times, including three hits, one RBI, and two runs scored.
UP NEXT
The Salukis and Bruins will continue the weekend series on Friday with game two starting at 6 p.m. and airing on ESPN Plus.
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 (4-2)
L: HARDEN, Ethan (1-1)
Batting:
2B: CLARKE, Jeff 1 ; BARTON, Blake 1 ; RANDO, Jack 1 ; SLAUGHTER, Sam 2
RBI: CLARKE, Jeff 1 ; LANDERS, Mason 1 ; RANDO, Jack 1 ; SLAUGHTER, Sam 1 ; LOWRY, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KIRKPATRICK, Sam 1 ; BARTON, Blake 1 ; RANDO, Jack 2 ; SLAUGHTER, Sam 1 ; LOWRY, Drew 1
SB: BARTON, Blake 1 ; LOWRY, Drew 1
CS: RANDO, Jack 1
HBP: RANDO, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Bandy, Nathan 1
HR: Christman, Cole 1 ; Loden, Steven 1 ; Schark, Matt 1
RBI: Boucher, Pier-Olivier 1 ; Rodriguez, Ryan 2 ; Rog, Kaeber 1 ; Christman, Cole 1 ; Loden, Steven 1 ; Schark, Matt 1
SF: Rodriguez, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bandy, Nathan 2 ; Christman, Cole 1 ; Loden, Steven 1 ; Schark, Matt 1 ; Vallee, Mathieu 2
