Salukis Pull Away from Bradley to Claim First Sweep of 2026

Sunday, April 19

Peoria, IL

1 PM

Southern Illinois University

16-22, 7-5

Bradley

8-32, 4-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Ill.	1	0	1	0	0	4	1	0	6	13	12	1
Bradley	2	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	5	8	0

Kyler Mager lifts a fly ball during Southern Illinois' 6-2 win over Bradley Saturday, April 19, 2026, in Peoria, Ill.

Photo by: Jordan Kruse

04/19/2026 | 10:10:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

PEORIA, Ill. - A six-run top of the ninth all but secured Southern Illinois' first three-game sweep of the 2026 season over the Bradley Braves Sunday in Peoria. The 13 runs also marked the first time SIU had scored in double digits multiple times in the same weekend this year.

The Salukis wasted no time scoring as Kyle Mager put an RBI-single through the left side in the first.

Former Saluki Michael Quick gave Bradley its first lead of the weekend in the bottom of the inning on a two-out, two-run single.

Gabe Petrucelli responded with a two-out RBI of his own, a single that tied the game at two in the third.

Bradley retook the lead with one run in the fourth and fifth, but the Saluki offense responded in a big way in the sixth.

A leadoff double from Jaden Flores was followed by a walk and two hit-by-pitches, pushing a run across. Cecil Lofton delivered another massive hit on the weekend with a two-run double to right center to put SIU up 5-4. An RBI groundout from Kyle Mager made the fourth run of the inning.

Jaden Flores continued a big week of his own with his second home run of the weekend, a solo blast to give Southern a 7-4 lead.

Trying to salvage the weekend, Bradley added a run in the bottom of the seventh.

All weekend, the Salukis had been able to cash in insurance runs late, and Sunday was no different. A two-run single from Kye Watson and a two-out RBI from Tim Simay brought the lead to five. Kyle Mager delivered the final blow on a three-run home run over the left field wall, giving SIU a 13-5 advantage just three outs away from a sweep.

Mager collected a season-high five RBIs in the victory, while Flores collected his second three-hit game of the 2026 campaign.

Meade Johnson (W, 1-2) earned his first win of the season after throwing five innings for the Dawgs.

UP NEXT
Southern Illinois searches for revenge as it travels to SEMO for a midweek matchup Tuesday.

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Monday, April 27

Racers Score Two in Ninth to Spoil Saluki Comeback

Sunday, April 26

Guerrero has Four RBIs in Return, Habuda Walks Off Racers

Saturday, April 25

Racers Run-Rule Dawgs in Seven

Friday, April 24

Next Event

SEMO

L, 1-5

Apr 21 (Tue)

6 PM

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Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Johnson, Meade (1-2)

L: Calen Scheider (0-6)

Southern Ill.

Batting:

2B: Lofton, Cecil 1 ; Flores, Jaden 2

HR: Mager, Kyle 1 ; Flores, Jaden 1

RBI: Watson, Kye 3 ; Lofton, Cecil 2 ; Simay, Tim 1 ; Mager, Kyle 5 ; Petrucelli, Gabe 1 ; Flores, Jaden 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Sprawling, Kristian 1 ; Watson, Kye 3 ; Lofton, Cecil 1 ; Simay, Tim 1 ; Mager, Kyle 2 ; Petrucelli, Gabe 1 ; Flores, Jaden 3 ; Schwalbach, Mason 1