Coming off a sweep of Bradley University in their last Missouri Valley Conference series, the Salukis faced the first-place Racers of Murray State University on April 24-26. The three-game home set went back and forth, but a late rally in the final game gave the Racers a 2-1 series victory over the Dawgs.
APRIL 24: MURRAY 13, SIU 1
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Pitcher Andrew Evans got the start for the Salukis. The righty got through a first-inning bases-loaded jam without surrendering a run to the powerful Racers’ offense.
The second inning was not as fruitful for the Dawgs, allowing an RBI single and another packed basepath. The Racers delivered a huge knock for a grand slam, giving the opponents an early 5-0 lead.
Designated hitter Kyle Mager got the Dawgs on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning.
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The Racers answered immediately after with a 3-run inning in the top of the fourth.
A run in the top of the sixth and four more in the top of the seventh inning made it a 13-1 ballgame. The Salukis needed to score three runs in the bottom half of the inning to avoid a mercy-rule loss.
Murray State’s pitching blanked the Salukis, and the game finished in seven innings, in favor of the Racers.
APRIL 25: SIU 7, MURRAY 6
Reigning MVC Newcomer of the Week Troy Shepard led the charge for the Salukis in the second game of the series.
The crafty left-hander worked through the first two innings without much trouble.
An RBI fielder’s choice and an RBI groundout put the Racers ahead 2-0 in the top of the third inning.
After not getting an at-bat since March 31 due to injury, centerfielder Julio Guerrero stepped up and deposited an RBI single through the left side, putting the Dawgs on the board.
Two innings later, Guerrero knocked in the tying and go-ahead runs with a two-run double, making it a 3-2 affair in favor of the Salukis.
A run in the sixth, two in the seventh and another in the eighth inning gave the Racers a 6-3 lead late in the game, putting the Salukis at risk of dropping the series.
Shortstop Tim Simay eased the damage with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Pitcher Jack Macintosh got through the top of the ninth inning without any runs allowed, and it was up to the Saluki offense to make a comeback.
Pinch hitter Jacob McKenzie, also coming back from injury, drew a walk to get the bottom of the ninth inning underway. Left fielder Kristian Sprawling knocked a single into left-center, and the Dawgs were in business.
Mager came in to pinch hit, and the powerful bat came through, hooking a double down the right field line, bringing the Salukis within a run. With no outs, Guerrero drove in his fourth RBI of the game with a game-tying bloop single. Pinch hitter Bryce Habuda chopped a ball to second base, and the winning run came home on a misplay by the Racers.
The Salukis rushed the field and celebrated the come-from-behind victory. The walk-off win made the following game on Sunday the deciding factor for the series victors.
APRIL 26: MURRAY 7, SIU 5
Pitcher Meade Johnson got the start for the Dawgs in the rubber match of the series. The righty faced bases loaded with no outs in the top of the first inning, but escaped after allowing a run.
First baseman Cecil Lofton came up in the bottom of the first inning and gave the Salukis a 2-1 lead with an RBI single.
A two-run triple in the top of the second inning gave the Racers a 3-2 lead.
Pitcher Blake Kimball came in to relieve Johnson but surrendered a pair of fourth-inning runs. Before the Racers’ insurance runs, Lofton was removed from the game with a leg injury after stretching for an incoming throw. First baseman Kaleb Hall took over for the remainder of the contest.
Pitcher Charlie Miller came in and delivered 4.1 innings of scoreless ball for SIU.
Hall made an immediate impact by driving in a run on a double in the bottom of the fifth inning, getting the Dawgs within two runs.
Neither team could push across a run till the bottom of the eighth inning. McKenzie drew a two-out walk, and third baseman Jaden Flores put runners on second and third with a double. Second baseman Gabe Petrucelli came up with the clutch knock, a double that drove in both runners and tied the game.
The Racers started a rally that resulted in two ninth-inning runs, giving the opponents a 7-5 lead.
The late runs were too much for the Dawgs to overcome, dropping the game 7-5, and the series two games to one.
With this series loss, SIU falls to 17-25 with an 8-7 MVC record. The Racers improved to 26-18 with an impressive 12-6 record in conference play. Coverage of the Salukis’ road game against the Lindenwood University Lions on April 28 can be found on the Daily Egyptian website.
Sports Reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at [email protected]
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