Late inning rally powers Saluki baseball over Illinois

The SIU baseball team’s late inning heroics helped it capture its second straight win. This time, it was against the Salukis’ in-state rival.

A day after picking up a 10-inning win against Southeast Missouri State, SIU (15-20) used a four-run eighth inning to overcome the University of Illinois 9-6 Wednesday at Rent One Ballpark in Marion.

The win snaps SIU’s five-game losing streak against Illinois.

Associate head coach Ken Henderson said he was pleased with the team’s attitude and the way it rallied after falling behind when the Illini offense struck with a big inning.

“We got together in the dugout and said: ‘You know, we had a bad inning, but we’re only down one. Let’s keep battling,’” Henderson said. “Then they hit and they stayed up and the attitude was great.”

The Salukis led the Fighting Illini 5-0 going to into the fifth inning, but a six-run top of the sixth by the Illini put them ahead 6-5.

For the first five innings it looked as if the Salukis would not need another dose of late-inning heroics. SIU scored one run in the second after freshman left fielder Jordan Sivertsen knocked in fellow freshman first baseman Chris Serritella with a sacrifice fly.

Sivertsen struck again two innings later in grand fashion. The Saluki left fielder took Illini reliever Blake Fairchild deep on the first pitch, delivering a grand slam over the left field wall for his second home run of the year.

But Illinois struck back.

The Illini (21-10) capitalized on several SIU mistakes to score six runs in the sixth inning to erase a five-run deficit. Three different Saluki relievers struggled to get through the frame. Neil Hudson started the inning and did not retire a batter. He allowed two runs on two hits before giving way to Daniel Wells. Wells proceeded to walk and hit a batter with the bases loaded as he was also unable to record an out.

Brian Pullyblank gave up back-to-back hits allowing two more runs to score. However, it was Pullyblank who was able to set aside three hitters to end Illinois’ threat.

“You look at that sixth inning, we walked a couple of guys, hit a couple of guys. We basically gave them free passes that allowed them to pick up the momentum,” assistant coach Tim Dixon said. “You have to have short-term memory, try to learn from it.”

After being blanked in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, the Salukis came through with an electric eighth inning.

Center fielder Chris Murphy started the rally when he swiped second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by shortstop Brandon Wikoff during second baseman Scott Elmendorf’s at-bat.

Then, senior catcher Mark Kelly drove Murphy in with a one-out sacrifice fly to deep right, tying the game at 6-6. Serritella put on the finishing touches for the Salukis with a two-run triple that split the right-center field gap to make it 8-6. Right fielder Aaron Roberts added an RBI single and made it 9-6.

Junior closer Bryant George, fresh off of breaking SIU’s all-time saves record, set down the Illini 1-2-3 for his sixth save of the year.

Wednesday’s contest renewed the rivalry between SIU and Illinois. Starting last season, the teams will play a one-and-one every season. The Salukis will only play at Rent One Ballpark during games against the Illini.

“It’s something to get excited about midweek, especially when we play Illinois. Nothing gets you more excited,” Henderson said.