TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State baseball secured its ninth series-opening victory of the season Friday after taking the opener from Southern Illinois 5-4 at Bob Warn Field. The Sycamores moved to 25-12 overall and 12-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference while the Salukis fell to 33-16 and 10-11 in League action.
Left-hander
Geremy Guerrero pitched a solid seven innings in the start but came away with the no-decision as the Salukis scored three runs late to erase a 4-1 deficit. SIU scored a run in the seventh and led off the eighth with a base hit which signaled the end of the day for Guerrero.
ISU looked to clear the bases with a double play, but after a challenge by the Salukis, the runner at second was called safe. SIU would get one run in on a fielder's choice a batter later before Philip Archer doubled in the tying run.
Jordan Schaffer would kickstart the offense in the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff single before swiping his team-leading 11th stolen base to move into scoring position. Outfielder
Aaron Beck then picked up his lone hit of the day to bring in Schaffer with a one-hop single to right field.
The Sycamores put up a crooked number in the first inning as the team loaded the bases and
Josue Urdaneta drew a walk. Designated hitter
Mitch Barrow collected his fifth base hit of the season with a two-RBI single to right field.
Southern Illinois would get on the board in the second when Nick Neville picked up a solo home run to center. Schaffer added another run for the Sycamores in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, scoring Barrow from third.
Fenlong would pick up the win in relief, moving to 4-0 on the season. The right-hander pitched two innings and allowed one hit while retiring one Saluki on a punchout. Guerrero struck out seven and allowed seven base hits in his outing.
Schaffer led the team on a 2-for-3 day at the plate, including a hit-by-pitch. Barrow drew a walk and drove in two runs.
Trey McDaniel took the loss for SIU, falling to 4-4 on the season. Mike Hansell started for Southern and went just 3.1 innings allowing four earned runs.
UP NEXT
The Sycamores will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. ET Saturday at Bob Warn Field.
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