Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State spotted Southern Illinois a four-run lead and battled back, but a nine-run eighth inning for Southern Illinois ended the game 14-4 Saturday night at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
Southern Illinois (12-5) went to the eighth inning up 5-4, and sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring nine runs to end the game 14-4 via the ten-run rule. The Salukis got four hits in the inning, drew four walks and had one batter hit by a pitch. They also had a triple and the walk-off, two-run home run by center fielder Caleb Hall.
SIU's Jackson Payne (1-0) picked up the win. The Eagles'
Ethan Davis (1-1) got the loss.
Morehead State (7-10) gave up two runs in both the third and fourth innings to spot the Salukis a 4-0 lead, before beginning to fight back. First baseman
Alex Kean lead off the top of the fifth inning with his third home run of the season to get the Eagles started.
The Eagles got another run in the sixth when designated hitter
Hunter Thomas' single to right drove home
Griffin Olson.
Morehead State took the lead in the seventh on shortstop
Andy Cisneros' two-run double, scoring
Aubrey Kearns and
JJ Dutton making it 5-4 MSU.
SIU scored in the bottom of the inning to even the score when leadoff hitter Jordan Bach walked, advanced to third on a single and then scored on a wild pitch by Davis.
SIU starter Alec Nigut had a strong outing, pitching 5.1 innings, scattering four hits, allowing one run and recording seven strikeouts.
The series finale will be tomorrow at Itchy Jones Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET.
NOTABLE
- Morehead State's Grad pitcher Grant Herron made his season debut. He threw one inning in the start, allowing one walk in his first action since March 9, 2024.
- Andy Cisneros went 2-3 with a two-run double to pace the Eagle offense, extending his hitting streak to four games. He has hit safely in 14 of the Eagles' 17 games.
- Alex Kean got his third home run of the season in the fifth inning, going two for four for the game and extending his hitting streak to seven games. In that span he has hit 11-30 (.367)
- Blake Hager threw 2-1 innings allowing one walk and struck out one. In 5.2 innings pitched so far this season, he has yet to allow a run scored.
