|
 Illinois State grabbed an early lead, but Southern Illinois rallied
for five runs in the fifth inning to take control of the game.
Southern Illinois added two more runs in the sixth and the Redbirds
were unable to threaten the Salukis’ lead from there on.
The Redbirds finished the season with an overall mark of 27-27 in
head coach Bo Durkac’s first season at the helm.
“It’s a bad way to end the season, but I’m proud as heck of our
guys,” Durkac said. “For nine months, they’ve laid it on the line
for me as a first-year head coach. We’ve got three class-act seniors
in Mason (Snyder), Logan (Leverett) and Dennis (Colon), and we’ve
got three or four guys who might get drafted this year who will get
a chance to go chase their professional dreams.
“A 27-27 record, it’s a .500 record when it’s all said and done, but
we laid the foundation for our program moving forward, and I’m very
proud of how we handled ourselves this year.”
Illinois State took an early lead Thursday when Jean Ramirez
provided a two-out single up the middle to score Sean Beesley in the
bottom of the second inning.
Southern Illinois (12-45) was held scoreless for the first four
innings, before putting five runs on the scoreboard in the fifth,
thanks to three hits, four walks and an Illinois State error.
Nick Hutchins singled to lead off the inning before three
consecutive Salukis reached on walks to bring in the first run. SIU
leadoff hitter Chase Sloan then singled up the middle to give the
Salukis their second run, and a third run came in to score on a
fielding error on Sloan’s single. Tyler Rolland brought home the
final two runs of the inning with a two-out double to left field.
[to top of second column] |
The Salukis added two more runs in the sixth as Ryan Sabo scored on
a passed ball before Sloan scored Sabo with a sacrifice fly moments
later.
Illinois State starter Will Headean allowed seven runs (six earned)
on six hits and five walks over six innings. Jack Landwehr, Jack
Czeszewski and Jake Sale pitched one scoreless inning each to finish
out the game.
Koziol and Beesley recorded two hits apiece, accounting for
two-thirds of the Redbirds’ six hits.
[Matt Wing, Illinois State
University]
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