Salukis Stun Sycamores, Racers, Move to First MVC Championship Since 2022

Saturday, May 23

Murray, KY

3 PM

Southern Illinois University

25-31

Indiana State

30-26

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

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

Kaleb Hall (11) celebrates a grand slam with Gavan Wernsing (50) during Southern Illinois' 7-5 win over Indiana State Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Johnny Reagan Field in Murray, Ky.

Photo by: Abby Harris

Salukis Stun Sycamores, Racers, Move to First MVC Championship Since 2022

05/24/2026 | 12:50:00 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Tournament Central

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

MURRAY, Ky. - Southern Illinois' incredible victories over Indiana State and Murray State moved it to its first appearance in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Johnny Reagan Field in Murray, Ky.

Game One: Southern Illinois 7, Indiana State 5

Southern Illinois collected just five hits through the game's first seven innings as Ty Brooks and Colby Morse allowed traffic, but no runs for SIU. Carter Beck supplied the lone runs of the first seven innings, smacking two solo home runs.

SIU's Dawson Hargrove turned in six quality innings, allowing just two runs on five hits.

Southern's comeback began to feel real after a Sycamore error in the top of the eighth loaded the bases. Michael Mylott came around to score on a double play, and Jaden Flores followed with an RBI infield single to tie the game at 2-2.

Dylan Petrey kept the Sycamores at bay, pitching two scoreless frames to keep the game tied.

Julio Guerrero reached to begin the ninth-inning rally before Tim Simay delivered the go-ahead RBI single to left field, giving SIU its first lead of the afternoon at 3-2. Kaleb Hall delivered the knockout blow, launching a grand slam to center field that capped a five-run inning and pushed the Salukis in front 7-2.

Indiana State tried one final push in the bottom half when Jeremy Martinez hit on a three-run homer, but Meade Johnson recorded the final outs to secure the victory.

Petrey (W, 4-2) earned the victory for SIU.

Game Two: Southern Illinois 9, Murray State 7

Southern kept game one's momentum going by storming ahead at the plate and getting a masterful pitching performance from Gavan Wernsing.

The Salukis struck first in the second inning when Gabe Petrucelli ripped an RBI double down the right-field line to score Tim Simay and give SIU a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Michael Mylott added a sacrifice fly to center that plated Kristian Sprawling to make it 2-0.

Southern Illinois then broke the game open in the fourth. Kaleb Hall opened the inning with a single and eventually scored on Mason Schwalbach's RBI single to right. After a Murray State wild pitch brought home Schwalbach, Kristian Sprawling stole home on a Murray State pickoff move, igniting the dugout and silencing the Racer crowd.

The Salukis added three more runs in the sixth. Simay delivered a two-run single to left field, and Schwalbach later drew a bases-loaded walk to push the advantage to 8-0.

Wernsing (W, 2-1) was removed in the sixth, and received a big ovation from the Saluki fans in attendance. The Effingham, Ill., native pitched 5.1 innings for SIU, striking out three and allowing just three hits.

In the blink of an eye, the game flipped on its head. After Murray State scored its first run on a passed ball, Kris Hokenson lined a two-run single into right-center field to cut the deficit to 8-3. Daylan Pena then launched a grand slam to left-center field, suddenly trimming the SIU lead to just 8-7.

Southern Illinois turned to Meade Johnson to close the game once again, and the right-hander delivered. The Salukis added an insurance run in the ninth when Julio Guerrero lifted a sacrifice fly to left that scored Sprawling for the contest's final margin.

Johnson capped his three-inning save by freezing the would-be winning run in Connor Chisolm with a curveball, slamming his glove into the ground as the dugout stormed onto the field.

UP NEXT
Southern Illinois will play UIC for the Missouri Valley Conference Championship beginning Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 1 p.m. With the tournament being played in a double-elimination format, the Salukis will need to win two games to claim the title.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
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