
Photo by: Abby Harris
Recap | Salukis Get Series Win with Run-Rule of Bellarmine; Earn Ninth-Straight Victory
03/08/2025 | 5:00:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball extended its winning streak to nine games with a dominant 13-3 victory over Bellarmine in seven innings on Saturday afternoon at Itchy Jones Stadium. The Salukis (10-3) erupted for 13 runs on 12 hits to secure the victory.
The Salukis jumped ahead early with two runs in the first inning and never looked back. Tim Simay led the charge, blasting two home runs, including a solo shot in the second and another in the seventh to end the game early. Senior Matt Schark added a grand slam in the sixth inning, breaking the game wide open as the Salukis extended their lead to 8-2.
Jordan Bach had a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Kristian Sprawling added three RBIs of his own, reaching base three times. SIU's RBI leader entering the weekend Jaxon Holder finished the game without an official at bat as the shortstop drew four walks while scoring three Saluki runs.
The Salukis capitalized on Bellarmine's pitching struggles, drawing 10 walks and scoring four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Alec Nigut (4-0) put together another strong outing as he picked up the win for SIU, tossing five strong innings and allowing just two unearned runs on four hits while striking out four. Gavan Wernsing and Matt Irvine combined to pitch the final two frames, holding the Knights (2-11) to just one run.
Bellarmine managed to plate runs in the second, fourth, and seventh innings but couldn't keep pace with SIU's relentless offense. Casey Sorg led the Knights with three hits and an RBI, while Seth Sweet-Chick and Charlie Rife each drove in a run.
Bellarmine starter Aaron Ragat (0-4) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with just one strikeout. Reliever Blake Donnan struggled in the fifth, giving up six runs -- five earned -- on two hits and four walks in just one inning of work. Chase Chamberlain followed, surrendering three runs over 1.1 innings before the Knights finally closed out the game.
UP NEXT
Southern Illinois will look for the series sweep on Sunday as the two teams will close out the series at 1 p.m. at Itchy Jones Stadium.
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.
The Salukis jumped ahead early with two runs in the first inning and never looked back. Tim Simay led the charge, blasting two home runs, including a solo shot in the second and another in the seventh to end the game early. Senior Matt Schark added a grand slam in the sixth inning, breaking the game wide open as the Salukis extended their lead to 8-2.
Jordan Bach had a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Kristian Sprawling added three RBIs of his own, reaching base three times. SIU's RBI leader entering the weekend Jaxon Holder finished the game without an official at bat as the shortstop drew four walks while scoring three Saluki runs.
The Salukis capitalized on Bellarmine's pitching struggles, drawing 10 walks and scoring four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Alec Nigut (4-0) put together another strong outing as he picked up the win for SIU, tossing five strong innings and allowing just two unearned runs on four hits while striking out four. Gavan Wernsing and Matt Irvine combined to pitch the final two frames, holding the Knights (2-11) to just one run.
Bellarmine managed to plate runs in the second, fourth, and seventh innings but couldn't keep pace with SIU's relentless offense. Casey Sorg led the Knights with three hits and an RBI, while Seth Sweet-Chick and Charlie Rife each drove in a run.
Bellarmine starter Aaron Ragat (0-4) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with just one strikeout. Reliever Blake Donnan struggled in the fifth, giving up six runs -- five earned -- on two hits and four walks in just one inning of work. Chase Chamberlain followed, surrendering three runs over 1.1 innings before the Knights finally closed out the game.
UP NEXT
Southern Illinois will look for the series sweep on Sunday as the two teams will close out the series at 1 p.m. at Itchy Jones Stadium.
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 (4-0)
L: Aaron Ragat (0-4)
Batting:
2B: Casey Sorg 2
RBI: Casey Sorg 1 ; Charlie Rife 1 ; Seth Sweet-Chick 1
SF: Charlie Rife 1 ; Seth Sweet-Chick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Luke Scales 1 ; Brady Morse 1 ; Seth Sweet-Chick 1
HBP: Eli Watson 2

Batting:
2B: Bach, Jordan 1
HR: Schark, Matt 1 ; Simay, Tim 2
RBI: Bach, Jordan 2 ; Schark, Matt 4 ; Lofton, Cecil 1 ; Lemm, John 1 ; Sprawling, Kristian 3 ; Simay, Tim 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bach, Jordan 3 ; Schark, Matt 2 ; Lofton, Cecil 1 ; Hall, Kaleb 1 ; Simay, Tim 3 ; Holder, Jaxon 3
CS: Sprawling, Kristian 1
HBP: Sprawling, Kristian 1 ; Schwalbach, Mason 1 ; Simay, Tim 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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