Monday, February 24
Cookeville, TN
1 PM
Southern Illinois University
3-3
10
at
4
Tennessee Tech
6-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Southern Illinois
1
0
0
0
4
0
0
2
3
10
12
2
Tennessee Tech
0
1
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
4
5
2
Recap | Hall, Lofton power Salukis to series win over Tennessee Tech
02/24/2025 | 5:28:00 | Baseball
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Kaleb Hall and Cecil Lofton each collected three hits and three RBIs en route to Southern's 10-4 win over Tennessee Tech Monday in Cookeville, Tenn. The win brings Southern Illinois to 3-3 on the season and is the team's first series win.
Jordan Bach led off the game with a double and the Salukis struck first thanks to an RBI single from Michael Mylott.
The lead would not last long, as Tennessee Tech quickly tied the affair with a solo home run from Mack Whitcomb.
The game remained tied at one run apiece until the Salukis put a four-spot on the board in the top of the fifth. Matt Schark's solo home run sparked the rally, and the first of Hall's triples scored Gabe Petrucelli to give the Salukis a runner on third with two runners already scored and no outs. Cole Freeman knocked in Hall with an RBI groundout, and Jaxon Holder punctuated the inning with his first home run as a Saluki, a solo shot that gave Southern a 5-1 lead.
The Golden Eagles kept fighting, forcing Southern starter Meade Johnson from the contest in the bottom of the fifth when they scored a run via RBI single from Luke Bragga. Johnson struck out three, walked two, and allowed two earned runs in four-plus innings pitched.
Tech added two more in the bottom of the sixth as Southern's offense began to go quiet, and the Salukis clung to a one-run advantage as the game headed to the eighth inning.
Hall joined an exclusive club in Saluki baseball history during the game's most pivotal moment. With runners on first and third and one out in the top of the eighth, Hall laced another triple down the right field line, scoring both Salukis and putting Southern ahead by three. With his second three-bagger, Hall became the 13th Saluki to hit two triples in a single game.
Cecil Lofton continued his weekend power surge after blasting a three-run homer in the top of the ninth and all but put the game out of reach as the Salukis led 10-4 with just three outs to go.
The late offensive explosion was backed by a solid outing from Dylan Petrey who did not allow a run in three innings pitched out of the bullpen. Al Holguin (1-0) got the win after throwing an inning out of the bullpen, and Sam Frizzi closed the ninth inducing a game-ending double play.
Carter Casabella (1-1) took the loss for Tennessee Tech. The right-hander pitched 4.1 innings and allowed five earned runs.
UP NEXT
The Salukis will play their fourth game in four days after a midweek clash at Arkansas State on Tuesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN Plus.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X 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.
Jordan Bach led off the game with a double and the Salukis struck first thanks to an RBI single from Michael Mylott.
The lead would not last long, as Tennessee Tech quickly tied the affair with a solo home run from Mack Whitcomb.
The game remained tied at one run apiece until the Salukis put a four-spot on the board in the top of the fifth. Matt Schark's solo home run sparked the rally, and the first of Hall's triples scored Gabe Petrucelli to give the Salukis a runner on third with two runners already scored and no outs. Cole Freeman knocked in Hall with an RBI groundout, and Jaxon Holder punctuated the inning with his first home run as a Saluki, a solo shot that gave Southern a 5-1 lead.
The Golden Eagles kept fighting, forcing Southern starter Meade Johnson from the contest in the bottom of the fifth when they scored a run via RBI single from Luke Bragga. Johnson struck out three, walked two, and allowed two earned runs in four-plus innings pitched.
Tech added two more in the bottom of the sixth as Southern's offense began to go quiet, and the Salukis clung to a one-run advantage as the game headed to the eighth inning.
Hall joined an exclusive club in Saluki baseball history during the game's most pivotal moment. With runners on first and third and one out in the top of the eighth, Hall laced another triple down the right field line, scoring both Salukis and putting Southern ahead by three. With his second three-bagger, Hall became the 13th Saluki to hit two triples in a single game.
Cecil Lofton continued his weekend power surge after blasting a three-run homer in the top of the ninth and all but put the game out of reach as the Salukis led 10-4 with just three outs to go.
The late offensive explosion was backed by a solid outing from Dylan Petrey who did not allow a run in three innings pitched out of the bullpen. Al Holguin (1-0) got the win after throwing an inning out of the bullpen, and Sam Frizzi closed the ninth inducing a game-ending double play.
Carter Casabella (1-1) took the loss for Tennessee Tech. The right-hander pitched 4.1 innings and allowed five earned runs.
UP NEXT
The Salukis will play their fourth game in four days after a midweek clash at Arkansas State on Tuesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN Plus.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X 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: Al Holguin (1-0)
L: CASABELLA (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Jordan Bach 1 ; Cecil Lofton 1
3B: Kaleb Hall 2
HR: Cecil Lofton 1 ; Matt Schark 1 ; Jaxon Holder 1
RBI: Michael Mylott 1 ; Cecil Lofton 3 ; Matt Schark 1 ; Kaleb Hall 3 ; Cole Freeman 1 ; Jaxon Holder 1
SH: Michael Mylott 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordan Bach 2 ; Cecil Lofton 2 ; Matt Schark 1 ; Gabe Petrucelli 2 ; Kaleb Hall 1 ; Jaxon Holder 2
Batting:
HR: WHITCOMB 1
RBI: WHITCOMB 1 ; JORDAN 1 ; SMELSER 1 ; BRAGGA 1
SF: SMELSER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BLACK, R. 1 ; WHITCOMB 2 ; JORDAN 1
HBP: WHITCOMB 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
rf
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
OF/INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball9.14.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at UT Martin - Colin Bohanek
Sunday, September 14
9.14.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at UT Martin - DJ Williams
Sunday, September 14
9.14.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at UT Martin - Nick Hill
Sunday, September 14
Saluki Radio Football Broadcast - at UT Martin
Sunday, September 14