Salukis Falter Late With Familiar Script in 12-4 loss to Utah Tech

Sunday, March 29

1 PM

Southern Illinois University

10-16

Utah Tech

18-10

Utah Tech

Southern Ill.

Mason Schwalbach (17) crosses the plate during Southern Illinois 12-4 Loss to Utah Tech Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Carbondale, Ill.

Photo by: Zuzanna Gaik

Salukis Falter Late With Familiar Script in 12-4 loss to Utah Tech

03/29/2026 | 10:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - After being tied heading into the seventh inning, the Southern Illinois bullpen could not limit the free passes late in a 12-4 loss to Utah Tech Sunday at Itchy Jones Stadium.

Sunday's game looked eerily similar to Saturday's, with both starting pitchers largely holding the offenses at bay.

SIU's Meade Johnson finished with an overall solid day on the mound, but an infield single, a hit-by-pitch, and two walks allowed Utah Tech to collect the game's first run. A run-scoring wild pitch was the only other knock on his ledger in the fourth.

UT's Brandon Kosel has been a top pitcher in the Western Athletic Conference this year, and looked the part through the first four innings before Julio Guerrero brought in a run on a sacrifice fly. After being hit by a pitch, Cecil Lofton got caught in a rundown to allow Jaden Flores to score on a first-and-third play.

Johnson finished his day on a high note, striking out four of the last six batters he faced and securing a quality start, his first of 2026. The Mattoon, Ill., native struck out six on the day, allowing two earned runs despite allowing six free passes (four walks, two hit-by-pitches).

Tyson Greene initially did everything in his power to leave the Trailblazers with the bases juiced in the seventh, but lost Ty Johnsen with a walk and began a string of bad circumstances from SIU. Another walk, a two-run single and a wild pitch brought in four more runs in the frame.

Jaden Flores had his first three-hit day as a Saluki, which included two doubles and his first home run of the season in the seventh.

Utah Tech needed just two hits to score five runs in the eighth. Two wild pitches, a passed ball, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch doomed SIU.

Kyle Mager added a sacrifice fly in the eighth for the Salukis, who eventually fell by a score 12-4. SIU is now 10-16 on the season.

Brock Roundy earned the win, and Greene (L, 0-1) took the loss.

UP NEXT
The Salukis will aim to right the ship when it hosts Lindenwood Tuesday at Itchy Jones Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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