Life in the Valley

Offenses Stay Hot for Both Teams

Southern Illinois scored in double digits for the 6th time this season and needed almost all those runs, as the Salukis held off Houston Christian, 13-11, in the Thursday opener to their 3-game weekend series.

SIU (8-5) and the Huskies (7-7) engaged in a slugfest early, with SIU taking an 11-9 lead after 3 innings. While the Salukis spread their scoring out a bit, earning 3 in the 1st, 6 in the 2nd and 2 more in the 3rd; Houston Christian found itself down 9-1 after 2, only to tie the game in the top of the 3rd. SIU’s 2-spot in the 3rd gave the Salukis the lead for good but the game remained close the rest of the way.

Steven Loden homered and singled in the first 2 innings, driving in 5 runs. Loden finished 3-for-4 with 2 runs. Cole Christman scored 4 runs on a 2-for-3 day with 2 walks. Hesston Gray also homered for the Salukis. SIU entered Friday with 124 runs scored in 13 games.

Houston Christian’s Samuel Benjamin went 4-for-4 with 2 homers, 3 runs, 2 RBIs, and a walk. HCU hit 4 homers on the day.

Easton Dermody was the key man on the mound for the Salukis, pitching the final 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 0 walks and an impressive 9 strikeouts on 75 pitches (4.17 pitches per out). It earned him the ultra-rare 6-inning save, since Kade Coombe finished the 3rd before SIU took the lead for good.

Murray State 11, North Alabama 6

The Racers (8-5) also reached 10+ runs for the 6th time this season, downing the Lions of North Alabama, 11-6. Murray raced out to an 8-1 lead after batting in the 6th inning, then added single insurance runs in each of the next 3 frames to keep the Lions at arm’s length.

Murray’s power bats were on display again, as Dan Tauken, Carson Garner, and Dustin Mercer all went yard for the Racers. Mercer also doubled and Garner added a stolen base. Mercer and Drew Vogel each went 3-for-5 with Vogel driving in 3 runs. Garner had 2 runs, 2 hits, 2 RBIs, and 2 walks, while Tauken, the DH, scored 3 times. Garner’s homer was his 8th of the season to go with 18 RBIs, a .386 average, .955 slugging percentage, and 1.497 OPS. Vogel’s day got him to 15 RBIs and he’s hitting .370 with a team-high 20 hits. Murray has hit 21 homers in 13 games.

Ethan Lyke got the win, starting and going 5.2 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits with 5 strikeouts. Jacob Pennington pitched 1.1 innings of perfect relief with 3 strikeouts.