Salukis Drop Extra-Inning Tilt with Missouri State, 6-5

Saturday, May 13

Carbondale, IL

2 PM

Southern Illinois University

28-23, 0

Missouri St.

31-17, 0

Missouri State

Southern Illinois

Photo by: Abby Harris

05/13/2023 | 6:05:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: By Tim McCaughan, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball fell in 12 innings to Missouri State, 6-5, Saturday afternoon at Itchy Jones Stadium. The Salukis took a 5-1 lead into the ninth inning before the Bears rallied to tie the game and eventually claim the series victory with the win.

Missouri State outhit Southern 13-11 in the game while the Bears left 20 runners on base and SIU stranded eight in the ballgame.

Trailing 1-0 in the third, Pier-Olivier Boucher put the Salukis on top with a two-run home run to left field – the 15^th homer of the season for the senior.

Scott Harper pitched three and a third strong innings in relief after SIU starting pitcher Tanner Lewis was lifted in the third after an injury. He struck out two and allowed two hits in two and two third innings.

SIU added three runs in the eighth inning with RBI hits from Cole Christman, Bennett Eltoft and Ryan Rodriguez before the Bears roared back in the top of the ninth with four runs. A walk, single, and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before SIU was able to get the first out of the inning on a strikeout. Cody Kelly drove in two runs on a single before Will Duff and Carter Bergman added two more base hits to tie the game.

Mason Hull led off the 12^th with a solo home run and that was the difference as the Salukis dropped the series.

Paul Bonzagni allowed four runs in relief while Easton Dermody gave up the go-ahead run in the 12^th to be hit with the loss, falling to 2-3 on the year.

Missouri State got a strong start from right-hander Hayden Minton who went seven complete and allowed just two runs on six hits and striking out eight. Garrett Ferguson picked up the win after pitching the final four frames, allowing just one hit.

UP NEXT
The series finale has been moved up to 12 p.m. Sunday to avoid weather. Senior Day festivities will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m.

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