Southern Illinois University
36-16
SIUE
24-26
Recap | Salukis Outslug SIUE in 17-11 Midweek Slugfest
05/13/2025 | 9:44:00 | Baseball
The Salukis (36-16) scored in six of their eight trips to the plate and posted crooked numbers in five frames, highlighted by a five-run second inning and a three-run sixth that put the game out of reach.
Matt Schark spearheaded the attack, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and a double while driving in seven runs, including a three-run blast in both the second and third innings. Schark tied a career high with seven RBIs pushed his season total to 77 and his home run count to 22. With the performance, he moved into first in single-season RBIs, edging Robert Jones (1986) at the top of the list.
Michael Mylott matched the tone with a 3-for-4 night that included three RBIs, and three runs scored. Gabe Petrucelli stayed hot with three hits, a double and two RBIs while John Lemm launched his 15th home run of the season and reached base three times, extending his reached base streak to 30 games.
Southern's offense capitalized on SIUE's shaky pitching, drawing 10 walks and taking advantage of three Cougar wild pitches and a passed ball to tack on extra runs.
The Cougars (24-26) didn't go quietly, scoring in five of the first five innings and slugging four home runs of their own. Daniel Gierer provided the bulk of the damage with two homers and six RBIs, including a grand slam in the third that briefly brought SIUE within 9-8.
However, SIU reliever Andrew Yusypchuk settled the game down with three innings of one-run ball, earning his first win of the season. Blaine Harpenau and Sam Frizzi combined for the final two frames, with Frizzi retiring the side in order in the ninth.
Southern plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Kaleb Hall and added three more in the sixth with RBI hits from Mylott, Holder and Schark. The Salukis added two insurance runs in the seventh on Schark's RBI double and a sacrifice fly by Cade Nelis.
Brennen Grams took the loss for SIUE after surrendering five runs over two innings on the mound.
UP NEXT
The Salukis wrap up the regular season with a three-game series at Valparaiso starting Thursday.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Andrew Yusypchuk (1-0)
L: GRAMS (0-1)
Batting:
2B: GIERER 1
HR: MITCHELL, M 1 ; GIERER 2 ; RATLIFF 1
RBI: MITCHELL, M 2 ; GIERER 6 ; RATLIFF 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MITCHELL, M 4 ; GIERER 2 ; CROWDEN 1 ; RATLIFF 1 ; HARRINGTON 2 ; SIEMER 1
SB: MITCHELL, M 1
HBP: SIEMER 1
Batting:
2B: Matt Schark 1 ; Gabe Petrucelli 1
HR: Matt Schark 2 ; John Lemm 1
RBI: Matt Schark 7 ; Kaleb Hall 2 ; John Lemm 1 ; Gabe Petrucelli 2 ; Michael Mylott 3 ; Jaxon Holder 1
SF: Kaleb Hall 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordan Bach 3 ; Matt Schark 3 ; Kaleb Hall 1 ; Tim Simay 1 ; John Lemm 2 ; Gabe Petrucelli 3 ; Michael Mylott 3 ; Jaxon Holder 1
SB: Jordan Bach 2 ; Matt Schark 1 ; Gabe Petrucelli 1
CS: John Lemm 1
HBP: Gabe Petrucelli 1
PO: John Lemm 1
