Recap | Salukis Use Late-Inning Explosion to Stun Bellarmine, Extend Win Streak to 10

Calendar

Oct 17

2 PM

Baseball

Eastern Illinois University

Oct 24

2 PM

Baseball

Central Methodist University

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois staged a dramatic comeback with a seven-run eighth inning to erase a late deficit and defeat Bellarmine 14-10 on Sunday afternoon at Itchy Jones Stadium, securing its 10th consecutive victory.

After the Salukis (11-3) built a 7-0 lead through four innings, Bellarmine stormed back with five runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth, capitalizing on key SIU mistakes to surge ahead 10-7.

Southern Illinois responded emphatically in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by pinch-hitter Mason Schwalbach's go-ahead grand slam to center field, igniting the crowd and putting SIU back on top.

Infielder Tim Simay followed Schwalbach's heroics with a bases-clearing double, tacking on three crucial insurance runs to give SIU a 14-10 lead. Sam Frizzi then slammed the door in the ninth, striking out the side to secure the victory and earning his first save of the season.

SIU dominated early, striking for three runs in the first on RBI singles from Matt Schark and Kaden Sprawling. The lead grew in the third when Gabe Petrucelli and John Lemm launched back-to-back solo home runs – the third time this season that the duo has done so. Jordan Bach added a two-run blast in the fourth, giving the Salukis a comfortable seven-run cushion.

Southern got a strong pitching performance from right-hander Meade Johnson in the start. Johnson would go six innings for the Salukis and give up five hits and three runs. He would strike out eight and issue one walk after facing 24 batters.

Bellarmine clawed back into the game with a five-run seventh, fueled by a bases-clearing double from Seth Sweet-Chick. A five-run eighth, aided by multiple SIU defensive miscues, gave the Knights their first lead of the afternoon at 10-7.

But the Salukis refused to go quietly. Trailing by three, Schwalbach delivered the game's defining moment in a pinch-hit situation, crushing a first-pitch fastball for a grand slam to flip the script. Just minutes later, Simay doubled down the right-field line, clearing the bases to give SIU even more breathing room heading into the ninth. Frizzi's dominant relief appearance sealed the comeback win.

Bach led SIU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, while Simay and Schwalbach each drove in four runs.

Cooper Hellman would be hit with the loss for Bellarmine, falling to 0-1 on the season after he allowed six runs in the eighth inning. Zach Horwith lasted four innings in the start and allowed seven runs on 10 hits.

Bellarmine reliever Mike Sokol was strong out of the bullpen for Bellarmine as the right-hander pitched three innings and allowed just one run on two hits while striking out five.

UP NEXT
Southern Illinois is back in action on Tuesday when it travels to red-hot Western Kentucky who is 15-1 on the season and has also won 10-straight games. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT from Bowling Green, Kentucky.

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.

Calendar

Upcoming Events