Southern Illinois University
11-4
Western Kentucky
16-1
Recap | Salukis Drop Midweek Matchup with Western Kentucky on the Road
03/11/2025 | 8:42:00 | Baseball
John Lemm provided an early spark for Southern Illinois (11-4) with a solo home run in the second inning, briefly giving the Salukis a 2-1 lead – his team-leading fifth home run of the season. Cecil Lofton also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first, but that was all the offense SIU could muster against a relentless WKU lineup.
The Hilltoppers (16-1) exploded for 16 hits, including a grand slam by Ryan Wideman in the third inning, as they plated runs in every frame before the game was called. Wideman finished 4-for-6 with a game-high nine RBIs, while WKU took advantage of Saluki pitching struggles, drawing 10 walks.
In the win, Wideman completed the first cycle in Western Kentucky's 106 years of baseball in the seventh inning with a single up the middle.
Tyler Timmerman (1-1) was saddled with the loss for SIU, allowing five runs over 2.3 innings. The Salukis used six pitchers in an attempt to contain the WKU offense but were unable to slow the Hilltopper attack.
Lemm led the Salukis at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a solo home run in the second inning. Tate Lewis and Tim Simay also recorded hits, while Jordan Bach reached base and scored a run.
Dawson Hall (3-0) earned the win for WKU, pitching two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out two. Additionally, Zach Lyles contributed a clean inning, striking out two without allowing a hit or a walk.
UP NEXT
The Salukis host Morehead State in a three-game set starting Friday in Carbondale.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dawson Hall (3-0)
L: Timmerman, Tyler (1-1)
Batting:
HR: Lemm, John 1
RBI: Lofton, Cecil 1 ; Lemm, John 1
SF: Lofton, Cecil 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bach, Jordan 1 ; Lemm, John 1
SB: Bach, Jordan 1 ; Sprawling, Kristian 1
Batting:
2B: Ryan Wideman 1 ; Camden Ross 1 ; Austin Haller 1
3B: Ryan Wideman 1 ; Thomas Marsala 1
HR: Ryan Wideman 1
RBI: Carlos Vasquez 2 ; Joe Siervo 1 ; Ryan Wideman 9 ; Thomas Marsala 1 ; Camden Ross 2 ; Reid Howard 1 ; Caleb Niehaus 1 ; Austin Haller 2
SF: Carlos Vasquez 1 ; Camden Ross 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carlos Vasquez 3 ; Joe Siervo 1 ; Ryan Wideman 2 ; Thomas Marsala 1 ; Camden Ross 2 ; Kyle Hvidsten 2 ; Henry Brown 1 ; Caleb Marmo 1 ; Reid Howard 3 ; Austin Haller 5
SB: Joe Siervo 1 ; Ryan Wideman 1 ; Austin Haller 1
HBP: Carlos Vasquez 1 ; Ethan Lizama 1 ; Kyle Hvidsten 1 ; Austin Haller 1
