TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Southern Illinois took the series opener over Indiana State Friday night after scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, winning 2-1 at Bob Warn Field. The Sycamores fell to 15-15 on the season and 2-2 in the Missouri Valley while SIU moved to 18-17 and 5-2 in Valley play.
 
Jeremy McKinney had another strong outing for the Sycamores, giving up just one run in 6.2 innings en route to the no decision. The Salukis were able to spray six hits against the right-hander on the night. Triston Polley was charged with the loss after the Salukis scored an unearned run in the eighth.
 
SIU's Connor Kopach picked up a one-out bunt single in the eighth before advancing to third on an errant pickoff attempt. He would score on a sacrifice fly later in the inning to give SIU the lead.
 
Both teams traded home runs early as Chris Ayers took a 3-2 pitch and sent it over the right field wall in the second before SIU's Greg Lambert answered back in the top of the third with a first-pitch home run of his own.
 
Right-hander Chad Whitmer went the complete game for the Salukis, improving to 3-3 on the year. He struck out 13 Sycamore batters and allowed only five hits in the outing.
 
 SIU stranded six runners on base while the Trees left five on. The loss marked the sixth time this season that the Sycamores had committed a pair of errors.
 
No Sycamore hitter went for more than one hit in the game with Ayers leading the way. Lambert went 3-for-4 to lead the Salukis.
 
The Sycamores and Salukis will wrap up the series Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. to avoid forecasted thunderstorms throughout Sunday.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.