Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Friday, February 13
Tulsa, OK
3 PM
Southern Illinois University
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Oral Roberts
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Southern Ill.
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Oral Roberts
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Tim Simay
Photo by: ORU Athletics: Raelynn Hahn
Salukis Ride Long Ball and Bullpen to 4-2 Opening Win in Tulsa
02/13/2026 | 10:46:00 | Baseball
TULSA, Okla. — Southern Illinois opened the 2026 season with a road win Friday afternoon, using three home runs and a steady effort on the mound to beat Oral Roberts 4-2 at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
SIU struck first in the top of the first and never trailed the rest of the way. With two outs, Cecil Lofton singled up the middle to bring home Kye Watson for the game's first run.
Oral Roberts answered in the bottom of the second, using a two-out, two-run single from Martell Davis to move in front 2-1, but the Salukis kept the damage limited. SIU starter Andrew Evans settled in after that inning and worked five frames.
The Salukis responded in the third. With SIU down a run, Watson turned on a pitch and drove it out to right to tie the game at 2-2.
One inning later, SIU went back in front for good. In the fourth, Michael Mylott hit a solo homer to left to make it 3-2.
From there, SIU continued to pressure on the bases and put runners in scoring position several times. The Salukis finished with 11 hits and five stolen bases, while the ORU bullpen kept it a one-run game into the late innings.
The insurance run came in the eighth when Lofton connected again, this time with a solo shot to right, pushing the lead to 4-2.
On the mound, Evans earned the win in the season opener, going 5.0 innings and allowing two runs while striking out four. Out of the bullpen, Charlie Miller handled the middle innings, and Dylan Petrey closed it out in the ninth.
Watson led the way at the top of the order, going 2-for-5 with two runs and the game-tying home run. Lofton finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including the go-ahead RBI single in the first and the late homer in the eighth. Mylott added two hits and the fourth-inning home run as SIU started 2026 at 1-0.
UP NEXT
SIU and Oral Roberts continue the series Saturday in Tulsa. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter 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.
SIU struck first in the top of the first and never trailed the rest of the way. With two outs, Cecil Lofton singled up the middle to bring home Kye Watson for the game's first run.
Oral Roberts answered in the bottom of the second, using a two-out, two-run single from Martell Davis to move in front 2-1, but the Salukis kept the damage limited. SIU starter Andrew Evans settled in after that inning and worked five frames.
The Salukis responded in the third. With SIU down a run, Watson turned on a pitch and drove it out to right to tie the game at 2-2.
One inning later, SIU went back in front for good. In the fourth, Michael Mylott hit a solo homer to left to make it 3-2.
From there, SIU continued to pressure on the bases and put runners in scoring position several times. The Salukis finished with 11 hits and five stolen bases, while the ORU bullpen kept it a one-run game into the late innings.
The insurance run came in the eighth when Lofton connected again, this time with a solo shot to right, pushing the lead to 4-2.
On the mound, Evans earned the win in the season opener, going 5.0 innings and allowing two runs while striking out four. Out of the bullpen, Charlie Miller handled the middle innings, and Dylan Petrey closed it out in the ninth.
Watson led the way at the top of the order, going 2-for-5 with two runs and the game-tying home run. Lofton finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including the go-ahead RBI single in the first and the late homer in the eighth. Mylott added two hits and the fourth-inning home run as SIU started 2026 at 1-0.
UP NEXT
SIU and Oral Roberts continue the series Saturday in Tulsa. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter 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: Evans, Andrew (1-0)
L: E. Teel (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Simay, Tim 1
HR: Watson, Kye 1 ; Lofton, Cecil 1 ; Mylott, Michael 1
RBI: Watson, Kye 1 ; Lofton, Cecil 2 ; Mylott, Michael 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Watson, Kye 2 ; Lofton, Cecil 1 ; Mylott, Michael 1
SB: Guerrero, Julio 3 ; Hall, Kaleb 1 ; Lofton, Cecil 1
HBP: Guerrero, Julio 1 ; Simay, Tim 1
PO: Kufa, Henry 1
Batting:
2B: W. Kane-Yate 1
RBI: M. Davis 2
Base Running:
RUNS: M. Tanaka 1 ; E. Fender 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
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