EVANSVILLE, Ind. – No. 6 Southern Illinois was unable to knock off top-seeded and No. 20 Indiana State for the second time during the postseason as the Sycamores defeated SIU, 7-3, Saturday afternoon at German American Bank Field to end the season for the Salukis.
The Salukis (33-27) outhit Indiana State 10-7 in the game, but three Salukis errors would prove costly as the Sycamores would capitalize with three unearned runs in the third.
Southern Illinois would call on Tuesday’s starter in Aidan Foeller to start against the Sycamores. He would go the first three innings and record four strikeouts while holding ISU to just two hits, but three errors in the third would plate a trio of unearned runs against the right-hander.
SIU put a runner on in each of the first three innings, but it was the third when Southern was able to push a run across the plate. Bennett Eltoft led off the frame with a walk before moving into scoring position on a wild pitch. Mathieu Vallee chopped a single over first base to bring in the first run. Senior Steven Loden doubled to the gap in left to score Vallee.
Indiana State (42-12) would answer back in the bottom of the third with three unearned runs as the Sycamores took advantage of a trio of errors. Joe Kido was hit-by-pitch to open the inning before Grant Magill reached on an error at first base. Randall Diaz brought in the first run on a groundout before Dominic Listi singled to right to bring in the tying run. SIU looked to be out of the inning on a ground ball to short, but an errant throw allowed a third run to score from second.
The Salukis would tie the game in the fifth when Jordan Bach recorded a two-out double to right center to bring in Trey Cutchen who walked earlier in the inning.
With an already stressed Saluki bullpen four games into tournament play, Lance Rhodes would call on Easton Dermody who would make his third appearance in four games. Dermody entered in the fourth and sat down all three Sycamores he faced on strikeouts before sitting down ISU in order in the fifth.
It was the sixth when the Trees pushed four runs across after sending 10 batters to the plate. The Sycamores had back-to-back hits to open the inning before Adam Pottinger put ISU on top with a single to center. Mike Sears cleared the bases with a two-run double and signaled the end of the day for Dermody. Magill singled in the fourth run of the inning two batters later to extend the Indiana State lead to 7-3 and that would be how the game would end.
Vallee, a senior, ended his SIU career with a 4-for-5 day at the plate to lead the Salukis. Bach was the only other Saluki to record multiple hits.
Dermody (4-3) was hit with the loss after four runs crossed during his appearance. Anthony Pron closed the final two innings for SIU, holding the Sycamores scoreless.
Matt Parenteau pitched three innings out of the bullpen for ISU and allowed just two hits and no runs. Max McEwen (2-0) earned the win after 2.2 innings of relief. ISU starter Jared Spencer went three innings in what was his second stint on the mound in the tournament.
