Life in the Valley

Salukis Stay Perfect With 10-9 Win in 11 Innings

It looked like so many other Indiana State games this year. The bullpen does the job when called upon, the Sycamores score a late run to take the lead, and boom, another win in the books.

That had to be the thought when in the 8th inning, Dominic Listi scored on Mike Sears’ sacrifice fly to left field, giving 20th-ranked Indiana State a 5-4 lead in Game 5 of the Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Championship.

As it turned out, we hadn’t seen anything yet.

Steven Loden homered off Jacob Pruitt to lead off the top of the 9th, tying the game at 5. It stayed that way until a wild 11th inning, that saw SIU score 5 runs – 3 on a bases-loaded triple by Nathan Bandy, to seemingly put the game well out of reach at 10-5. But Indiana State rallied, as well, scoring two runs on a Randal Diaz single and error in left field, then 2 more on Parker Stinson’s long double to left-center that almost left the park.

With the lead now trimmed to 10-9, SIU called on Ben Riffe out of the bullpen to try and finish things and finish things he did, striking out Sears swinging to end one of the more wild games in recent MVC tournament history, as Southern Illinois upset Indiana State, 10-9. The Salukis stay in the winner’s bracket and will take on either Illinois State or Belmont in the 7:30 p.m. Central nightcap Thursday.

For Indiana State, they are in the unexpected mode of having to try and get through the loser’s bracket, starting with a game at 4 p.m. Thursday against either UIC or 2nd-seeded Murray State. The only good news for the Sycamores is that as hard as they had to work tonight despite not winning, their opponent tomorrow will be playing their second consecutive game. Due to the length of the game tonight (6 hours, including a long weather delay), the scheduled Murray State-UIC game was moved to tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. The loser will have to come right back out and take on Indiana State in an elimination game.

All of which was far from anybody’s mind in the 6th inning, when Indiana State trialed 4-3, but tied the game on Luis Hernandez’s sac fly that scored Joe Kido to make it 4-4. Then in the 8th, Listi doubled with 1 out and went to third on an error that allowed Luis Hernandez to reach first. SIU intentionally walked Parker Stinson, hoping for a double play to get out of the inning. But Sears ruined that plan with his fly ball to left, scoring Listi. SIU unsuccessfully challenged that Listi left third base too early, but the run was confirmed.

That set up what looked like a victory for the Sycamores, until Loden opened the 9th with a towering fly ball to left that didn’t look like it had any chance of getting out. But it kept carrying, even as Pruitt pointed skyward directing his left fielder where it was. It landed beyond the fence much to State’s disbelief, and to SIU’s joy, and the game was tied.

Even then, it looked like Indiana State was going to answer. Kido doubled to lead off the bottom of the 9th and Josue Urdaneta walked. But Anthony Pron then retired Diaz, Listi, and Hernandez in order to force extra innings.

Both teams went 1-2-3 in the 10th before the flood gates opened in the 11th. Mathieu Vallee singled to open the SIU 11th and went to second on a wild pitch with 1 out against Simon Gregersen. Jake Allgeyer’s single to left scored Vallee to give SIU a 6-5 lead. But Cole Christman struck out and it looked like the damage would be limited. But Gregersen, working his second-longest outing of the season in terms of pitches (63) lost the strike zone, walking Hesston Gray, Bennett Eltoft, and Jordan Bach to force in a run and make it 7-5. Bandy followed with his 3-run triple to left-center to give SIU its 10-5 lead before Indiana State’s rally fell just short.

Pron got the win, pitching 4 innings of relief before giving way in the 11th. He gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 this with 3 walks and 1 strikeout, but he kept SIU in the game. Riffe got his 1st save. Vallee and Loden each had 3 hits for SIU, while Allgeyer and Bandy each drove in 3 runs. Indiana State outhit SIU, 16-12, led by 3 from Diaz and 2 each by Hernandez, Adam Pottinger, Grant Magill, and Kido, who didn’t even start. Gregersen took the loss (1-1), allowing 5 runs on 3 hits in 2 2/3 innings with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. The powerful Sycamores were held without a homer.

Here’s where we stand after Day 2, by seed:

1. Indiana State (0-1): Lost 10-9 to SIU. Next: vs. loser of Murray State/UIC at 4 p.m. Thursday, elimination game.
2. Murray State (0-0): Off today. Next: vs. UIC at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
3. Evansville (1-0): Beat Illinois State, 17-6. Next: 11 a.m. Friday vs. TBA
4. Illinois State (0-1): Lost to Evansville, 17-6. Next: vs. Belmont at 9 a.m. Thursday, elimination game.
5. UIC (1-0): Off today. Next: vs. Murray State at 12:30 p.m. Thursday
6. Southern Illinois (2-0): beat Indiana State, 10-9. Next: vs. either Illinois State or Belmont at 7:30 p.m. Thursday
7. Belmont (1-1). Beat Missouri State, 6-4. Next: vs. Illinois State at 9 a.m. Thursday, elimination game.
8. Missouri State (0-2): Lost to Belmont, 6-4. Eliminated

Thursday on Valley Diamond: Here’s the updated Thursday schedule from the MVC:

• 9 a.m. Central: Belmont vs. Illinois State, elimination game.
• 12:30 p.m.: UIC vs. Murray State
• 4 p.m.: Indiana State vs. UIC/Murray State loser, elimination game.
• 7:30 p.m.: Southern Illinois vs. Belmont/Illinois State winner, who would be eliminated with loss.

If You’re Still Starved for More College Baseball: ESPN+ will have Game 4 of the West Coast Conference Tournament live at 9 p.m. Central.

Game 5
SIU 110 020 001 05 – 10 12 2
INS 111 001 010 04 – 9 16 1
W: Pron (3-2).
L: Gregersen (1-1).
S: Riffe (1).
HR: Loden, SIU (13).