Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Tuesday, April 7
6 PM
Southern Illinois University
12-19
5
vs
6
SEMO
23-10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Mo. St. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
| Southern Ill. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
Ryan Halamicek deals a pitch in during Southern Illinois' 6-5 loss to SEMO Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
Photo by: Abby Harris
Mager's Grand Slam Spoiled in Loss to SEMO
04/07/2026 | 10:29:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Kyle Mager smacked an opposite-field grand slam to put Southern Illinois ahead 5-4 in the seventh, but the Salukis could not hold on as SEMO stole the game to win 6-5 Tuesday night at Itchy Jones Stadium.
Ryan Halamicek returned to the pitching staff after not pitching since Feb. 22 due to injury, starting the contest for Southern. The defense was an early issue, giving SEMO two unearned runs early.
Tim Simay drew a bases-loaded walk to put Southern on the board in the third before SEMO responded quickly with a two-run home run from leadoff man Caleb Klein.
Southern received a lift in the middle innings from Blake Kimball, who threw 1.2 shutout innings with four strikeouts to keep the Redhawks at bay.
After a hit-by-pitch, a walk and an error, Southern loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth in the form of pinch-hitter Kyle Mager. On an 0-1 count, Mager lifted a ball over the right field fence for a grand slam and his first home run of the season. All of a sudden, the Salukis led 5-4 after trailing the entire night.
As quickly as they gained the lead, the Salukis lost it in the top of the seventh. A leadoff double from Ryan Lopetegui allowed the Redhawks to advance him with a sacrifice bunt, and Andrew Ramirez brought him home with an RBI single.Â
Dylan Petrey tallied two crucial strikeouts, and Matt Wnukowski retired SIU in order as the game headed to the ninth, all knotted up at five.
With one away, Ramirez reached on the fourth Saluki error of the game, and Tank Sims made Southern pay with a frozen rope RBI double to right center.Â
The Redhawks called on closer Jackson Kranawetter to finish the job in the ninth. A Henry Kufa single made him the go-ahead run with one away, but a pop-up followed by a Cecil Lofton lineout ended the inning.
Jack MacIntosh (L, 3-4) was tagged with a loss for Southern.
UP NEXT
The Salukis (12-19, 3-3 MVC) hit the road for Evansville to play the Purple Aces in a three-game set beginning Friday.
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.
Ryan Halamicek returned to the pitching staff after not pitching since Feb. 22 due to injury, starting the contest for Southern. The defense was an early issue, giving SEMO two unearned runs early.
Tim Simay drew a bases-loaded walk to put Southern on the board in the third before SEMO responded quickly with a two-run home run from leadoff man Caleb Klein.
Southern received a lift in the middle innings from Blake Kimball, who threw 1.2 shutout innings with four strikeouts to keep the Redhawks at bay.
After a hit-by-pitch, a walk and an error, Southern loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth in the form of pinch-hitter Kyle Mager. On an 0-1 count, Mager lifted a ball over the right field fence for a grand slam and his first home run of the season. All of a sudden, the Salukis led 5-4 after trailing the entire night.
As quickly as they gained the lead, the Salukis lost it in the top of the seventh. A leadoff double from Ryan Lopetegui allowed the Redhawks to advance him with a sacrifice bunt, and Andrew Ramirez brought him home with an RBI single.Â
Dylan Petrey tallied two crucial strikeouts, and Matt Wnukowski retired SIU in order as the game headed to the ninth, all knotted up at five.
With one away, Ramirez reached on the fourth Saluki error of the game, and Tank Sims made Southern pay with a frozen rope RBI double to right center.Â
The Redhawks called on closer Jackson Kranawetter to finish the job in the ninth. A Henry Kufa single made him the go-ahead run with one away, but a pop-up followed by a Cecil Lofton lineout ended the inning.
Jack MacIntosh (L, 3-4) was tagged with a loss for Southern.
UP NEXT
The Salukis (12-19, 3-3 MVC) hit the road for Evansville to play the Purple Aces in a three-game set beginning Friday.
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: M. Wnukowski (1-0)
L: MacIntosh, Jack (3-4)
S: Kranawetter (6)
Batting:
2B: C. Klein 1 ; R. Lopetegui 1 ; T. Sims 1
HR: C. Klein 1
RBI: C. Klein 2 ; D. Joggerst 1 ; A. Ramirez 1 ; T. Sims 1 ; M. Rocha 1
SH: D. Joggerst 1 ; B. Kettering 1
Base Running:
RUNS: C. Klein 2 ; R. Lopetegui 1 ; A. Ramirez 2 ; M. Rocha 1
HBP: B. Kettering 1
Batting:
HR: Mager, Kyle 1
RBI: Simay, Tim 1 ; Mager, Kyle 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Sprawling, Kristian 1 ; Hall, Kaleb 1 ; Flores, Jaden 2 ; Mager, Kyle 1
SB: Habuda, Bryce 1 ; Flores, Jaden 2
HBP: Sprawling, Kristian 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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