Friday, April 18
Carbondale, IL
2 PM
Southern Illinois University
26-12, 0
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Belmont
16-25, 0
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9
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Belmont
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Southern Illinois
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Photo by: Abby Harris
Recap | Salukis Take Doubleheader Wins Friday; Earn Series Sweep Over Bruins
04/18/2025 | 8:32:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball secured the series sweep of Belmont on Friday after taking the final two games during a doubleheader at Itchy Jones Stadium. The Salukis took the first game of the day, 4-3, before shutting out the Bruins in the nightcap, 8-0.
Game One – Southern Illinois 4, Belmont 3
Jordan Bach launched a three-run home run and Southern Illinois leaned on strong pitching performances to edge Belmont 4-3 in game one of the Friday doubleheader.
The Salukis rode Bach's sixth home run of the year - a three-run shot in the second inning - to a crucial Missouri Valley Conference victory to earn the series win over the Bruins. Bach finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs, providing the offensive punch needed to hold off Belmont.
Southern Illinois grabbed an early lead in the second inning, starting with a sacrifice fly from Jaxon Holder that brought home John Lemm. Moments later, Bach connected on a 1-0 pitch from Belmont starter Joe Ruzicka (3-2), sending it over the right-field fence and extending the Salukis' advantage to 4-0.
Belmont quickly responded with three runs in the top half of the third inning, including a solo home run by Pete Daniel and RBI singles from Blake Barton and Jake Maddox. Two of the runs were unearned due to an SIU error, but Saluki starter Alec Nigut (7-1) limited the damage and kept SIU ahead, ultimately delivering five innings while scattering eight hits, allowing just one earned run and striking out four.
From there, the Saluki bullpen took control. Jackson Payne worked three scoreless innings of relief, striking out one while surrendering only three hits. Sam Frizzi sealed the victory with a scoreless ninth inning, earning his sixth save of the season.
Defensively, Southern Illinois turned a pair of timely double plays and stranded 12 Belmont baserunners, despite the Bruins outhitting SIU 12-6.
Gabe Petrucelli contributed a double, while Holder and Lemm added key hits to support Bach's standout performance. Mason Schwalbach drew a walk and stole a base, and Holder also stole a bag as the Salukis capitalized on limited scoring opportunities.
Belmont starter Ruzicka took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits over 6.2 innings. Charlie Davis led the Bruins with a 3-for-5 day at the plate.
Game Two – Southern Illinois 8, Belmont 0
Meade Johnson pitched eight scoreless innings, and Southern Illinois launched four home runs in an 8-0 shutout victory over Belmont in the nightcap.
Johnson (1-2) turned in his best performance of the season, scattering just five hits and striking out three over eight strong innings to earn his first win of the year. He navigated around six walks by inducing timely ground balls, including a pair of key double plays that kept the Bruins off the scoreboard. Matt Irvine sealed the shutout with a scoreless ninth, adding two strikeouts.
Offensively, the Salukis (27-12) exploded for six runs in the fourth inning, sparked by Gabe Petrucelli's solo homer to center field. John Lemm quickly followed with a two-run shot -- his 12th of the season -- to extend the lead to 3-0. Southern Illinois added three more runs in the inning on a Belmont fielding error, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, and a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 6-0.
Mason Schwalbach and Cecil Lofton joined the home run barrage in the next innings. Schwalbach sent a towering solo homer to left in the fifth, and Lofton connected for his solo blast to left in the sixth, extending SIU's advantage to 8-0.
The Salukis totaled 11 hits in the game, with Petrucelli finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Michael Mylott added two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Lemm reached base three times, driving in two runs and drawing two walks.
Belmont starter Jake Timbes (2-4) took the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits over 3.2 innings. The Bruins (16-26) were held to just six hits and stranded nine runners, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
UP NEXT
Southern Illinois is set to travel to Southeast Missouri on Tuesday for the season finale with the Redhawks. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Capaha Field.
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.
Game One – Southern Illinois 4, Belmont 3
Jordan Bach launched a three-run home run and Southern Illinois leaned on strong pitching performances to edge Belmont 4-3 in game one of the Friday doubleheader.
The Salukis rode Bach's sixth home run of the year - a three-run shot in the second inning - to a crucial Missouri Valley Conference victory to earn the series win over the Bruins. Bach finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs, providing the offensive punch needed to hold off Belmont.
Southern Illinois grabbed an early lead in the second inning, starting with a sacrifice fly from Jaxon Holder that brought home John Lemm. Moments later, Bach connected on a 1-0 pitch from Belmont starter Joe Ruzicka (3-2), sending it over the right-field fence and extending the Salukis' advantage to 4-0.
Belmont quickly responded with three runs in the top half of the third inning, including a solo home run by Pete Daniel and RBI singles from Blake Barton and Jake Maddox. Two of the runs were unearned due to an SIU error, but Saluki starter Alec Nigut (7-1) limited the damage and kept SIU ahead, ultimately delivering five innings while scattering eight hits, allowing just one earned run and striking out four.
From there, the Saluki bullpen took control. Jackson Payne worked three scoreless innings of relief, striking out one while surrendering only three hits. Sam Frizzi sealed the victory with a scoreless ninth inning, earning his sixth save of the season.
Defensively, Southern Illinois turned a pair of timely double plays and stranded 12 Belmont baserunners, despite the Bruins outhitting SIU 12-6.
Gabe Petrucelli contributed a double, while Holder and Lemm added key hits to support Bach's standout performance. Mason Schwalbach drew a walk and stole a base, and Holder also stole a bag as the Salukis capitalized on limited scoring opportunities.
Belmont starter Ruzicka took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits over 6.2 innings. Charlie Davis led the Bruins with a 3-for-5 day at the plate.
Game Two – Southern Illinois 8, Belmont 0
Meade Johnson pitched eight scoreless innings, and Southern Illinois launched four home runs in an 8-0 shutout victory over Belmont in the nightcap.
Johnson (1-2) turned in his best performance of the season, scattering just five hits and striking out three over eight strong innings to earn his first win of the year. He navigated around six walks by inducing timely ground balls, including a pair of key double plays that kept the Bruins off the scoreboard. Matt Irvine sealed the shutout with a scoreless ninth, adding two strikeouts.
Offensively, the Salukis (27-12) exploded for six runs in the fourth inning, sparked by Gabe Petrucelli's solo homer to center field. John Lemm quickly followed with a two-run shot -- his 12th of the season -- to extend the lead to 3-0. Southern Illinois added three more runs in the inning on a Belmont fielding error, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, and a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 6-0.
Mason Schwalbach and Cecil Lofton joined the home run barrage in the next innings. Schwalbach sent a towering solo homer to left in the fifth, and Lofton connected for his solo blast to left in the sixth, extending SIU's advantage to 8-0.
The Salukis totaled 11 hits in the game, with Petrucelli finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Michael Mylott added two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Lemm reached base three times, driving in two runs and drawing two walks.
Belmont starter Jake Timbes (2-4) took the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits over 3.2 innings. The Bruins (16-26) were held to just six hits and stranded nine runners, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
UP NEXT
Southern Illinois is set to travel to Southeast Missouri on Tuesday for the season finale with the Redhawks. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Capaha Field.
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 (7-1)
L: RUZICKA, Joe (3-2)
S: Frizzi, Sam (6)
Batting:
2B: ALLEN, Ty 1 ; SPROCKETT, Mike 1 ; LAREAU, Michael 1
HR: DANIEL, Pete 1
RBI: DANIEL, Pete 1 ; BARTON, Blake 1 ; MADDOX, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DANIEL, Pete 1 ; DAVIS, Charlie 1 ; ALLEN, Ty 1
Batting:
2B: Petrucelli, Gabe 1
HR: Bach, Jordan 1
RBI: Bach, Jordan 3 ; Holder, Jaxon 1
SF: Holder, Jaxon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bach, Jordan 1 ; Lemm, John 1 ; Lewis, Tate 1 ; Mylott, Michael 1
SB: Schwalbach, Mason 1 ; Holder, Jaxon 1
HBP: Mylott, Michael 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
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0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/OF
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RHP
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OF/INF
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RHP
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LHP
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C/INF
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