Salukis Defeat Pirates, Claim First Series Win of 2026

Saturday, February 28

2 PM

Southern Illinois University

3-6

Seton Hall

3-4

Seton Hall

Southern Ill.

Photo by: Madison Giltner

02/28/2026 | 9:50:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois used a similar script in Saturday's 7-4 win over Seton Hall, claiming its first series win of 2026 in the process.

Southern fell behind early, but a balanced offensive effort and another big performance from the bullpen helped SIU take control of the game.

Nick Tomasetto laced an RBI double to left-center as Seton Hall scored in the first for the second-straight game. The Pirates added to their lead in the second, but similar to his teammate Andrew Evans, who started for Southern in Friday night's game, starter Troy Shepard settled in as he got deeper into the game.

Shepard got things together right in time for Michael Mylott to put SIU ahead with a three-run homer in the bottom of the second, his second of the season.

The left-hander retired Seton Hall in order in the third and fourth innings, and Henry Kufa brought home Kristian Sprawling on a sacrifice fly.

Shepard did everything in his power to get through the fifth inning, but had to be relieved once a run came through and the Pirates loaded the bases.

Gio de Graauw took over that unenviable situation with two outs and was able to induce a fielder's choice out at second to end the threat.

With two outs on the board and a run in, Tim Simay hit his first homer of the season to give Southern a 6-3 lead.

Southern was able to respond every time the Pirates tried to gain back momentum, and after the Pirates scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh, Jaden Flores kept Seton Hall at arm's length with a key insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth.

After a slow start to the season, Dylan Petrey got back on track with 2.2 inning with zero earned runs and three strikeouts, setting the table for SIU to win up by three entering the final frame.

Jack MacIntosh was called on for the second night in a row to close out the game, this time collecting his first save in a Saluki uniform.

"His stuff is really good," Head Coach Lance Rhodes said of his closer. "He's just continuing to get better in front of our eyes."

UP NEXT
SIU will go for the sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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