Southern Illinois University
19-13, 0
Belmont
18-15, 0
Salukis Walk Off Belmont for Second Time in Series
04/08/2023 | 5:41:00 | Baseball
After a ground-rule double from leadoff hitter Nathan Bandy, he scored on a ball in play from Ryan Rodriguez. Kaeber Rog was able to drive home another run with a double thanks to an error with two outs. Bandy (10) and Rog (9) are tied for fourth and tied for fifth in The Valley in doubles, respectively.
The Bruins (18-15) took a 3-2 lead after a walk and hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, but an RBI single from Cole Christman tied the game right back up at three.
SIU could not cash in many times with runners on base. They hit into five double plays, which was a season-high and is tied for the highest total in an NCAA game this season. The Dawgs had a chance to redeem themselves in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat and sent the game to extra innings for the second time of the series.
Both teams had chances to score in extras, but ultimately SIU would break the seal in the bottom of the twelfth thanks to a ball from first baseman Matt Schark that was dropped in left center. It is the third walk-off Schark has initiated this season and the second of the series.
Matthew Steidl and Paul Bonzagni (5-2) put together another strong performance from the bullpen, pitching a combined seven innings and allowing zero runs, two hits, two walks, and striking out three. Bonzagni's five wins on the season lead the team. Tanner Lewis got the start, pitching 4.1 innings with three runs allowed.
Max Jones tallied two hits for Belmont. Jeff Clarke and Blake Barton each had a hit and an RBI.
UP NEXT
Southern returns to action on Tuesday night when SEMO comes to Itchy Jones Stadium with first pitch set for 6 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bonzagni, Paul (5-2)
L: THIELKE, Jett (4-1)
Batting:
2B: CLARKE, Jeff 1 ; SLAUGHTER, Sam 1
RBI: CLARKE, Jeff 1 ; LANDERS, Mason 1 ; BARTON, Blake 1
SH: BLESSINGER, Max 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CLARKE, Jeff 1 ; SLAUGHTER, Sam 1 ; JONES, Max 1
HBP: LANDERS, Mason 1
Batting:
2B: Bandy, Nathan 1 ; Rog, Kaeber 1 ; Eltoft, Bennett 1
RBI: Christman, Cole 1 ; Rog, Kaeber 1
SH: Vallee, Mathieu 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bandy, Nathan 2 ; Christman, Cole 2
HBP: Loden, Steven 1 ; Schark, Matt 1
