TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State baseball played its fourth extra-inning affair of the season Saturday night at Bob Warn Field, falling to Southern Illinois, 8-7, in eleven innings. With the victory, Southern swept the doubleheader and leads the series 2-1 heading into Sunday's finale.
 
Indiana State (25-14, 12-7 MVC) rallied from a three-run deficit entering the ninth to tie the game. Senior Max Wright kickstarted the rally with a one-out double to the gap in right before Seth Gergely bounced a ball off first base for a single. SIU closer Trey McDaniel loaded the bases with two outs after Josue Urdaneta earned a walk to bring pinch-hitter Ellison Hanna II to the plate.
 
Hanna would bring in the first run of the inning after working a six-pitch walk, scoring Wright from third and closing the gap to two runs. The Sycamores went to the bench once again for Mike Sears and SIU looked to be out of the game as he chopped a ball back to the mound, but McDaniel's throw was wide of first and two runs came in on the error.
 
Both squads were able to move the lead runner to third in the 10th but did not plate a run. The Salukis (35-16, 12-11 MVC) opened the 11th with a ground ball to second to move Evan Martin 90-feet from home. The outfielder would make a dirt ball read and come home on a wild pitch to give Southern the advantage.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Indiana State bunted over Gergely to third before Urdaneta was hit-by-pitch to put runners on the corners. ISU looked to bring in the tying run when the Salukis were unable to turn a double play as initially the throw from second was wide and pulled Philip Archer off the bag at first. After a replay challenge, the umpires reversed the call on the field which ended the game.
 
Jordan Schaffer led the Trees with a three-hit day, including a home run in the eighth. Wright added a pair of hits while driving in two and scoring two runs.
 
ISU struggled with runners in scoring position, leaving 15 runners on base compared to just five by the Salukis.
 
Tristan Weaver allowed seven runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. Jake Ridgway tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in relief, striking out three and allowing four hits. Connor Cline entered in the 11th and took the loss, falling to 4-2.
 
Cody Cleveland led SIU once again with a 3-for-4 day to go with two RBIs, a walk and a run scored. Ian Walters also had three hits, including a home run.
 
McDaniel (5-4) was unable to pick up the save after entering in the ninth but did work his way to his fifth win of the season after pitching the final 2.2 innings and striking out four. Brad Harrison was hit with the no-decision after a 4.2 inning outing. He allowed two earned runs and four hits while striking out two.
 
Bubba Hall pitched 3.2 innings, including the fifth inning when he entered with the bases loaded before getting a strikeout to end the threat.
 
UP NEXT
The Sycamores and Salukis will wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
 
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