Salukis Fall to Cougars, 9-7

Tuesday, May 12

6 PM

Southern Illinois University

21-29

SIUE

31-21

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

Kristian Sprawling (7) goes through his batting routine during Southern Illinois' 9-7 loss to SIUE Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.

Photo by: Zuzanna Gaik

05/12/2026 | 10:40:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - A flurry of runs for SIUE in the middle innings proved to be the difference as Southern Illinois fell to the Cougars 9-7 Tuesday night at Itchy Jones Stadium.

SIU got off to a hot start in the first, as Kristian Sprawling hit the first of his three doubles on the night to lead off the game, eventually scoring on a perfectly placed hit-and-run single from Julio Guerrero. Cecil Lofton knocked in a second run with a sacrifice fly.

The Cougars got a run back in the second before Jacob McKenzie blasted a two-run homer to center in the third. The ball hit the top of the wall and bounced over for his fourth of the season and extended Southern's lead to three at 4-1.

The Cougars won innings four through seven 7-0, flipping the game on its head. Joshua Heyder was a force offensively, going 3-for-3 with a home run in the first five innings of play.

Kye Watson's sacrifice fly in the seventh was negated by an SIUE run in the top of the eighth, putting the Salukis in a four-run hole heading to the bottom of the ninth.

Sprawling's third double of the night drove in a run in the ninth, and a walk to Watson put the tying run at the plate and forced the Cougars to make a pitching change and bring in Brennen Grams. Michael Mylott put a single through the left side to bring in Sprawling with two out, bringing up McKenzie as the potential winning run. On a 1-1 count, Grams was able to induce a fielder's choice at second to end the game.

Sprawling led the Salukis with three hits — all doubles — and scored each time he got on base.

Dawson Hargrove (L, 0-2) took the loss for Southern.

UP NEXT
Southern Illinois preps to host senior weekend against Valparaiso beginning Thursday, May 14, at Itchy Jones Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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