Saturday, March 29
Peoria, IL
12 PM
Southern Illinois University
19-7, 4-1
13
at
4
Bradley
3-19, 0-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Southern Ill.
0
4
1
0
2
0
5
1
0
13
16
1
Bradley
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
4
8
0
Recap | Salukis Dominate Bradley in Weekend Sweep; Outscore Braves 51-19 in Three Games
03/29/2025 | 8:38:00 | Baseball
PEORIA, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball put up video game like numbers during a weekend road sweep of Bradley. SIU took both games of a Saturday doubleheader by a score of 13-4 en route to picking up its seventh consecutive win and improving to 20-7 overall and 5-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
It was an offensive explosion all weekend for the Dawgs who outscored Bradley 51-19 in the three-game set which included a 25-run game Friday night – the most for a Saluki baseball squad since 2013. SIU finished the series with 47 hits and 10 home runs while holding the Braves to .225 batting at the plate.
Matt Schark had a weekend to remember at Dozer Park, belting three home runs, including a grand slam while driving in a team-best 12 RBIs. Every Saluki that made a start in the series recorded at least three hits and two RBIs.
Game One – Southern Illinois 13, Bradley 4
Southern Illinois put together another dominant offensive performance Saturday afternoon in the opening game of a doubleheader, rolling past Bradley 13-4. The Salukis pounded out 16 hits and used a five-run seventh inning to put the game out of reach.
Bradley jumped out to an early lead in the first when Brendan Atkinson launched a two-run homer to right field, bringing home Connor Smith. However, the Braves' lead was short-lived as the Salukis responded with a four-run second inning.
Mason Schwalbach got SIU on the board with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Cecil Lofton. Jaxon Holder followed with an RBI single down the right-field line to tie the game at two. The rally continued as Jordan Bach delivered the go-ahead run before Matt Schark drove in another with a groundout, giving the Salukis a 4-2 advantage.
Schwalbach struck again in the third, lining an RBI single to right to bring home Lofton and extend the lead to 5-2. After a scoreless fourth, SIU added two more in the fifth when Tim Simay grounded out to second to score Michael Mylott, and Holder notched his second RBI of the day with a single to left, plating Schwalbach to make it 7-2.
Bradley scratched a run across in the bottom of the fifth when Smith singled through the left side, scoring Nick Fleckenstein, but that was the last significant offensive push for the Braves.
The Salukis put the game away in the seventh, breaking out for five runs. Schwalbach legged out an infield single to bring home Lofton, and Schark delivered the biggest blow of the night—a towering grand slam to right field, scoring Holder, Schwalbach, and Simay to give SIU a 12-3 lead.
Bach capped the Salukis' scoring with an RBI walk in the eighth, while Atkinson drove in Bradley's final run with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning.
Returning from an injury, left-hander Alec Nigut (5-0) picked up the win for SIU, tossing five innings while allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Relievers Dylan Petrey, Matt Irvine, and Andrew Yusypchuk combined to hold Bradley to just one run over the final four frames.
Offensively, Schwalbach led the charge, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Schark finished 2-for-6 with five RBIs, thanks to his seventh-inning grand slam. Holder also recorded a multi-hit game, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and three walks.
Game Two – Southern Illinois 13, Bradley 4
The Salukis wrapped up the weekend against Bradley with a 13-4 victory, completing the sweep and improving to 20-7 overall and 5-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play. SIU sits in first place in the league standings following the win and a Missouri State loss. The Salukis will host the Bears next weekend in Carbondale.
The Salukis wasted no time getting on the board as Jordan Bach crushed a solo home run to right field on the second pitch of the game to set the tone early. Two innings later, Matt Schark joined in on the power display with a solo shot of his own to left, doubling Southern Illinois' lead to 2-0.
In the fourth, the Salukis continued to apply pressure. Jaxon Holder drove in a run with a groundout, scoring Mason Schwalbach, and an error by Bradley's center fielder allowed Tim Simay to come across for an unearned run, extending the lead to 4-0.
Bradley responded in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on a pair of Saluki errors. Nathan Hosie ripped a double down the right-field line to drive in the Braves' first run, and a miscue at shortstop allowed another to cross, trimming SIU's lead to 4-2.
Southern Illinois answered immediately in the fifth, adding two more runs on a clutch two-run double by Schwalbach that brought home Christian Lofton and Joey Lemm.
Bradley's final offensive push came in the sixth when Ian Sobieszcz launched a solo home run to left, but that was the last run the Braves would manage.
The Salukis exploded in the seventh, sending 10 batters to the plate in a seven-run outburst. Schark started the scoring surge with his second home run of the game, a solo blast to left. Mason Schwalbach kept the rally going with an RBI single, scoring Michael Mylott. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed Tim Simay to come home, making it 9-3.
With two outs, Gavin Petrucelli lined an RBI single off the wall in right, scoring Simay. Then, Schark delivered the final blow -- a bases-clearing, three-run double to right-center, bringing home Bach, Holder, and Petrucelli to give SIU a13-3 lead.
Bradley pushed across a meaningless run in the bottom of the seventh on a Hosie RBI single, but the Salukis' lead was never in danger.
Dylan Petrey (3-2) earned the win in relief, delivering 2.2 innings of work, allowing one run on one hit while striking out six. Meade Johnson started for SIU, going 3.1 innings and striking out five without allowing an earned run. The bullpen combination of Sam Frizzi and Gavin Catto locked things down, combining for three innings of one-run baseball.
Bradley's pitching struggled to contain the Saluki bats, with starter Tyler Lutz (1-5) taking the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits in 4.1 innings.
Schark finished the game 3-for-5 with five RBIs and two home runs, leading a well-balanced offensive attack. Schwalbach added three hits and three RBIs, while Bach chipped in with a homer and an RBI. Simay was a force on the basepaths, swiping two bases and scoring twice.
UP NEXT
Southern Illinois will continue its road swing on Tuesday with a midweek meeting against Lindenwood. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m. with the Lions.
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.
It was an offensive explosion all weekend for the Dawgs who outscored Bradley 51-19 in the three-game set which included a 25-run game Friday night – the most for a Saluki baseball squad since 2013. SIU finished the series with 47 hits and 10 home runs while holding the Braves to .225 batting at the plate.
Matt Schark had a weekend to remember at Dozer Park, belting three home runs, including a grand slam while driving in a team-best 12 RBIs. Every Saluki that made a start in the series recorded at least three hits and two RBIs.
Game One – Southern Illinois 13, Bradley 4
Southern Illinois put together another dominant offensive performance Saturday afternoon in the opening game of a doubleheader, rolling past Bradley 13-4. The Salukis pounded out 16 hits and used a five-run seventh inning to put the game out of reach.
Bradley jumped out to an early lead in the first when Brendan Atkinson launched a two-run homer to right field, bringing home Connor Smith. However, the Braves' lead was short-lived as the Salukis responded with a four-run second inning.
Mason Schwalbach got SIU on the board with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Cecil Lofton. Jaxon Holder followed with an RBI single down the right-field line to tie the game at two. The rally continued as Jordan Bach delivered the go-ahead run before Matt Schark drove in another with a groundout, giving the Salukis a 4-2 advantage.
Schwalbach struck again in the third, lining an RBI single to right to bring home Lofton and extend the lead to 5-2. After a scoreless fourth, SIU added two more in the fifth when Tim Simay grounded out to second to score Michael Mylott, and Holder notched his second RBI of the day with a single to left, plating Schwalbach to make it 7-2.
Bradley scratched a run across in the bottom of the fifth when Smith singled through the left side, scoring Nick Fleckenstein, but that was the last significant offensive push for the Braves.
The Salukis put the game away in the seventh, breaking out for five runs. Schwalbach legged out an infield single to bring home Lofton, and Schark delivered the biggest blow of the night—a towering grand slam to right field, scoring Holder, Schwalbach, and Simay to give SIU a 12-3 lead.
Bach capped the Salukis' scoring with an RBI walk in the eighth, while Atkinson drove in Bradley's final run with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning.
Returning from an injury, left-hander Alec Nigut (5-0) picked up the win for SIU, tossing five innings while allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Relievers Dylan Petrey, Matt Irvine, and Andrew Yusypchuk combined to hold Bradley to just one run over the final four frames.
Offensively, Schwalbach led the charge, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Schark finished 2-for-6 with five RBIs, thanks to his seventh-inning grand slam. Holder also recorded a multi-hit game, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and three walks.
Game Two – Southern Illinois 13, Bradley 4
The Salukis wrapped up the weekend against Bradley with a 13-4 victory, completing the sweep and improving to 20-7 overall and 5-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play. SIU sits in first place in the league standings following the win and a Missouri State loss. The Salukis will host the Bears next weekend in Carbondale.
The Salukis wasted no time getting on the board as Jordan Bach crushed a solo home run to right field on the second pitch of the game to set the tone early. Two innings later, Matt Schark joined in on the power display with a solo shot of his own to left, doubling Southern Illinois' lead to 2-0.
In the fourth, the Salukis continued to apply pressure. Jaxon Holder drove in a run with a groundout, scoring Mason Schwalbach, and an error by Bradley's center fielder allowed Tim Simay to come across for an unearned run, extending the lead to 4-0.
Bradley responded in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on a pair of Saluki errors. Nathan Hosie ripped a double down the right-field line to drive in the Braves' first run, and a miscue at shortstop allowed another to cross, trimming SIU's lead to 4-2.
Southern Illinois answered immediately in the fifth, adding two more runs on a clutch two-run double by Schwalbach that brought home Christian Lofton and Joey Lemm.
Bradley's final offensive push came in the sixth when Ian Sobieszcz launched a solo home run to left, but that was the last run the Braves would manage.
The Salukis exploded in the seventh, sending 10 batters to the plate in a seven-run outburst. Schark started the scoring surge with his second home run of the game, a solo blast to left. Mason Schwalbach kept the rally going with an RBI single, scoring Michael Mylott. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed Tim Simay to come home, making it 9-3.
With two outs, Gavin Petrucelli lined an RBI single off the wall in right, scoring Simay. Then, Schark delivered the final blow -- a bases-clearing, three-run double to right-center, bringing home Bach, Holder, and Petrucelli to give SIU a13-3 lead.
Bradley pushed across a meaningless run in the bottom of the seventh on a Hosie RBI single, but the Salukis' lead was never in danger.
Dylan Petrey (3-2) earned the win in relief, delivering 2.2 innings of work, allowing one run on one hit while striking out six. Meade Johnson started for SIU, going 3.1 innings and striking out five without allowing an earned run. The bullpen combination of Sam Frizzi and Gavin Catto locked things down, combining for three innings of one-run baseball.
Bradley's pitching struggled to contain the Saluki bats, with starter Tyler Lutz (1-5) taking the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits in 4.1 innings.
Schark finished the game 3-for-5 with five RBIs and two home runs, leading a well-balanced offensive attack. Schwalbach added three hits and three RBIs, while Bach chipped in with a homer and an RBI. Simay was a force on the basepaths, swiping two bases and scoring twice.
UP NEXT
Southern Illinois will continue its road swing on Tuesday with a midweek meeting against Lindenwood. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m. with the Lions.
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: Nigut, Alec (5-0)
L: J. Vaughn (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Keuss, Justin 1 ; Mylott, Michael 1 ; Schwalbach, Mason 1
HR: Schark, Matt 1
RBI: Bach, Jordan 2 ; Schark, Matt 5 ; Simay, Tim 1 ; Schwalbach, Mason 3 ; Holder, Jaxon 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Schark, Matt 1 ; Mylott, Michael 1 ; Lofton, Cecil 3 ; Simay, Tim 3 ; Schwalbach, Mason 3 ; Holder, Jaxon 2
SB: Bach, Jordan 1 ; Simay, Tim 1 ; Schwalbach, Mason 1
HBP: Petrucelli, Gabe 1 ; Lemm, John 1
Batting:
HR: B. Atkinson 1
RBI: C. Smith 1 ; B. Atkinson 3
Base Running:
RUNS: C. Smith 1 ; K. Unruh 1 ; B. Atkinson 1 ; N. Fleckenst 1
SB: N. Fleckenst 1
Game Leaders
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Players Mentioned
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