Evans, Guerrero lead Southern to 8-3 Win at Belmont

Friday, May 8

Nashville, TN

4 PM

Southern Illinois University

19-28, 10-9

Belmont

19-30, 9-10

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

Julio Guerrero makes contact during Southern Illinois' 7-6 win over Murray State Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.

Photo by: Malayna Russell

05/09/2026 | 12:04:00 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Andrew Evans threw eight complete innings and Julio Guerrero knocked in four runs as Southern Illinois secured an 8-3 victory over Belmont Friday in Nashville.

Both teams had early traffic, but could not cash in a run through three. Belmont struck first in the fourth on a bunt single, but Jaden Flores immediately responded with a solo homer in the top of the fifth. Guerrero put SIU in front with an RBI double, and Cecil Lofton's RBI groundout capped the three-run frame.

Evans delivered important shutdown innings after his team went in front, throwing a perfect fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Gabe Petrucelli scored on an error in the sixth, putting Southern up by four.

Needing insurance runs, the Saluki offense all but sealed the win in the top of the eighth. Mason Schwalbach brought in Flores on an RBI single before Guerrero smacked a three-run homer to give his team an 8-1 lead. The long ball was his seventh, which leads the Salukis.

Evans wrapped up his quality start after eight innings pitched. The Olathe, Kan., native allowed three runs and struck out six while allowing just one walk on the day.

Blake Kimball retired the side in the ninth.

UP NEXT
Southern Illinois will try to win this crucial series Saturday at 2 p.m.

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