Southern Illinois University
24-10, 7-4
Indiana State
17-17, 6-5
Recap | Lemm, Simay Power Southern Illinois Past Indiana State, 16-9, to Even Series
04/12/2025 | 4:35:00 | Baseball
The Salukis (24-10, 7-4 MVC) rebounded emphatically from Friday's defeat, pounding out 13 hits in a relentless offensive attack. Lemm paced SIU's lineup, finishing the day 2-for-4 with a home run and two walks, while Simay went 3-for-6, delivering clutch hits that helped break the game open early.
SIU jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run in the first inning when Lemm singled home Matt Schark. After Indiana State briefly took a 2-1 lead in the second inning, the Salukis responded emphatically, scoring five runs in the third and another five in the fourth to take control of the contest.
In the third inning, Gabe Petrucelli drove in a pair with a single, and Simay followed suit with a two-run base hit of his own. Kaleb Hall capped the big inning with an RBI groundout, pushing Southern Illinois ahead 6-2.
Simay continued to swing a hot bat in the fourth inning, driving in two more with a single down the first-base line. SIU added runs in the fifth, seventh, and ninth innings, highlighted by Lemm's 11th home run of the season - a two-run shot in the ninth - to cement the victory.
Schark, who scored four times, finished 3-for-4, including a double, and Jordan Bach added a double, an RBI, and three runs scored. Jaxon Holder reached base four times and scored each time, going 2-for-3 with two walks.
On the mound, Alec Nigut (6-1) earned the victory, giving the Salukis five innings of solid work, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five. Dylan Petrey provided strong relief over the final 2.2 innings, surrendering two runs and striking out two to close out the game.
Indiana State (17-17, 6-5 MVC) didn't go quietly, totaling 14 hits, including two home runs from Cesar Pena and additional homers from Mike Roell and Alex Ortiz. Tyler Brooks (3-3) was charged with the loss, allowing six earned runs over two innings.
UP NEXT
The two squads will wrap up the weekend series on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. ET.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nigut, Alec (6-1)
L: Brooks, Ty (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Bach, Jordan 1 ; Schark, Matt 1
HR: Lemm, John 1
RBI: Bach, Jordan 1 ; Schark, Matt 1 ; Petrucelli, Gabe 2 ; Lemm, John 4 ; Simay, Tim 4 ; Lofton, Cecil 1 ; Hall, Kaleb 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bach, Jordan 3 ; Schark, Matt 4 ; Petrucelli, Gabe 2 ; Lemm, John 3 ; Holder, Jaxon 4
SB: Lemm, John 1 ; Simay, Tim 1
HBP: Schark, Matt 1
Batting:
2B: Beck, Carter 1 ; Martinez, Jeremy 1
HR: Pena, Carlos 2 ; Roell, Mason 1 ; Ortiz, Andrew 1
RBI: Beck, Carter 3 ; Pena, Carlos 3 ; Roell, Mason 1 ; Estrella, Emil 1 ; Ortiz, Andrew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gipson, Eli 1 ; Pena, Carlos 2 ; Martinez, Jeremy 1 ; Roell, Mason 1 ; Taylor, Jackson 1 ; Estrella, Emil 1 ; Ortiz, Andrew 2
HBP: Beck, Carter 1 ; Taylor, Jackson 1
