Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Friday, March 27
6 PM
Southern Illinois University
10-14
10
vs
0
Utah Tech
16-10
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Utah Tech
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
2
Southern Ill.
0
0
2
0
1
1
6
10
9
0
Julio Guerrero throws up a heart sign to his family after a walk-off three-run home run Friday, March 27 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. His fifth home run of the season put the Salukis up 10-0, ending the game via mercy rule in the seventh inning.
Photo by: Abby Harris
Salukis Mercy Rule Utah Tech behind Guerrero's Three-Run Homer, Seven Shutout from Evans
03/27/2026 | 10:19:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Seven shutout innings from Andrew Evans (W, 4-1) set the table for Julio Guerrero to end the game with a three-run home run in the seventh, forcing a mercy rule. The Salukis defeated Utah Tech in game one of a three-game set 10-0 Friday night at Itchy Jones Stadium.
Kye Watson was responsible for the game's first highlight, tumbling over the wall in foul territory for a miraculous catch in the second inning.
Evans and Utah Tech starter Jackson Price were dialed early, but the Salukis struck first in the third inning as Gabe Petrucelli smacked a two-run single up the middle.
The Trailblazers were able to cause some traffic on the bases, but big pitches and a pickoff in the fourth from Evans squashed Utah Tech's best scoring opportunities.
UTU's staff reached a breaking point after a two-out error, and a wild pitch gave Southern two runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Now over 100 pitches in the seventh, Evans showed signs of slowing down as a two-out double put runners at second and third. Pitching coach Ryan McClaran made a visit to the mound, but trusted the Kansas State transfer to get one final out in the inning. Evans induced a groundout from Petey Soto Jr., pumping his fist as he exited the field.
Heading into the night as the Missouri Valley Conference's leader in strikeouts, Evans did not miss as many bats as he has been accustomed to, but was just as effective. The Olathe, Kan., native finished the outing with seven shutout innings, striking out four and allowing just one walk on seven hits.
The Saluki offense delivered what would become an unorthodox complete-game shutout for its starter.
Henry Kufa and Kye Watson did the little things right in the bottom of the seventh. Kufa tallied the first run with an RBI single, then Watson took a pitch to the leg with the bases loaded. Kufa then came all the way around on a wild pitch, and Southern quickly found themselves with a chance to end the game early with the potential winning run at the plate.
There are not many players Southern would rather have up in a walk-off situation than Julio Guerrero, who has been slugging as of late. On a 3-2 count, the Venezuela native drilled a three-run home run to center, ending the game via mercy rule, his fourth home run in the last five games.
The win is Southern's largest of the 2026 season, and the first mercy-ruling since a 13-3 win over Evansville on May 11, 2025.
UP NEXT
The Salukis and Trailblazers continue the weekend set Saturday. 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 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.
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Kye Watson was responsible for the game's first highlight, tumbling over the wall in foul territory for a miraculous catch in the second inning.
Evans and Utah Tech starter Jackson Price were dialed early, but the Salukis struck first in the third inning as Gabe Petrucelli smacked a two-run single up the middle.
The Trailblazers were able to cause some traffic on the bases, but big pitches and a pickoff in the fourth from Evans squashed Utah Tech's best scoring opportunities.
UTU's staff reached a breaking point after a two-out error, and a wild pitch gave Southern two runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Now over 100 pitches in the seventh, Evans showed signs of slowing down as a two-out double put runners at second and third. Pitching coach Ryan McClaran made a visit to the mound, but trusted the Kansas State transfer to get one final out in the inning. Evans induced a groundout from Petey Soto Jr., pumping his fist as he exited the field.
Heading into the night as the Missouri Valley Conference's leader in strikeouts, Evans did not miss as many bats as he has been accustomed to, but was just as effective. The Olathe, Kan., native finished the outing with seven shutout innings, striking out four and allowing just one walk on seven hits.
The Saluki offense delivered what would become an unorthodox complete-game shutout for its starter.
Henry Kufa and Kye Watson did the little things right in the bottom of the seventh. Kufa tallied the first run with an RBI single, then Watson took a pitch to the leg with the bases loaded. Kufa then came all the way around on a wild pitch, and Southern quickly found themselves with a chance to end the game early with the potential winning run at the plate.
There are not many players Southern would rather have up in a walk-off situation than Julio Guerrero, who has been slugging as of late. On a 3-2 count, the Venezuela native drilled a three-run home run to center, ending the game via mercy rule, his fourth home run in the last five games.
The win is Southern's largest of the 2026 season, and the first mercy-ruling since a 13-3 win over Evansville on May 11, 2025.
UP NEXT
The Salukis and Trailblazers continue the weekend set Saturday. 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 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.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Evans, Andrew (4-1)
L: J. Price (0-2)
Utah Tech
Batting:
2B: F. Stewart 1
Base Running:
CS: P. Soto Jr. 1
PO: R. Kroepel 1
Batting:
2B: Dibble, Jackson 1
HR: Guerrero, Julio 1
RBI: Watson, Kye 1 ; Guerrero, Julio 3 ; Petrucelli, Gabe 2 ; Kufa, Henry 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Watson, Kye 1 ; Guerrero, Julio 2 ; Lofton, Cecil 1 ; Dibble, Jackson 1 ; Petrucelli, Gabe 1 ; Sprawling, Kristian 1 ; Kufa, Henry 1 ; Schwalbach, Mason 1 ; Flores, Jaden 1
SB: Guerrero, Julio 1
HBP: Watson, Kye 1 ; Sprawling, Kristian 1 ; Schwalbach, Mason 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
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