Schwalbach's Three-Run Homer Lifts Salukis in MVC Tourney Opener

Wednesday, May 20

Murray, KY

5:40 PM

Southern Illinois University

24-30

Evansville

20-32

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Evansville	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	4	12	1
Southern Ill.	1	0	0	3	3	1	0	0	X	8	10	1

Tournament Central

Mason Schwalbach rounds third during his three-run home run in an 8-4 win over Evansville at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Murray, Ky.

Photo by: Zuzanna Gaik

05/20/2026 | 11:32:00 | Baseball

Box Score Tournament Central Photo Gallery

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

MURRAY, Ky. - Mason Schwalbach's three-run homer in the fourth powered Southern Illinois to an 8-4 win over Evansville to open the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Murray, Ky.

SIU scored seven of its eight runs in innings four through six, providing key run support for MVC Pitcher of the Year Andrew Evans, who pitched six innings to earn a quality start and struck out 10 on the day.

Schwalbach (2) was joined by teammates Julio Guerrero (3), Kye Watson (2), and Tim Simay (2) with multi-hit games. Simay added two RBIs to his ledger.

Michael Mylott got the day started with an RBI groundout in the first to put Southern up 1-0.

The lone blemish on Evans' line was a two-run home run given up in the third to Reid Haire, which gave UE a 2-1 lead at the time.

UE starter Max Hansmann was looking for his second straight shutdown inning after his team went in front before Schwalbach's three-run homer ignited the Saluki offense in the fourth. The Dawgs tagged him for three more in the fifth after an RBI infield single from Petrucelli and a two-run base knock from Simay.

Now pitching with a 7-2 lead, Evans was able to get through the six as he topped out at 112 pitches thrown. Kye Watson added more insurance with an RBI single of his own in the sixth.

The Purple Aces got two more runs in the seventh, but that would be all they could muster as Meade Johnson locked down the final two frames to secure the victory.

Evans (W, 7-2) earned the win for SIU.

UP NEXT
By virtue of its win and the No. 3 Murray State victory over No. 6 Illinois State, SIU will play UIC at approximately 1:45 p.m. Thursday as the lowest seed to win during the first round.

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