Baseball Wins Series Against SIU
After winning the opening game of the series in a walk off in the 11th inning and getting shut out in game two 9-0, the Warhawks came into today looking to clinch victory in their only home non-conference series of the season. A solid pitching performance by Chase Beal and timely hitting by the ULM offense gave the Warhawks a 6-2 victory.
Southern Illinois threatened early in the second inning. They had three straight singles to load the bases with 0 outs. Chase Beal was able to work out of the jam with a popout, a strikeout, and a groundout. The Salukis loaded the bases with 0 outs again in the top of the fourth again with 3 straight singles. This time, Beal got out of the jam with a strikeout and forced a double play to end the inning. Beal stranded 9 Salukis on the bases in the first 4 innings.
The Warhawks were able to make Southern Illinois pay for stranding those runners in the bottom of the 4th. Turner Francis had a two-out double. Chad Bell followed that up with a single that scored Francis to give the Warhawks the lead. They added to that lead in the bottom of the fifth with some small ball. Nathan Reynolds hit a single, stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a wild pitch that also walked Johnny DeLaCruz. DeLaCruz walked, stole a base, advanced on another wild pitch, and scored on a single by Spencer Hemphill.
Southern Illinois wouldn't go away without a fight. Beal had allowed scattered hits throughout the game, but the Salukis were never able to materialize them into runs until the 6th inning. Beal started the inning off by hitting the first batter (Hunter Anderson) then allowing him to advance to second on a wild pitch. An error by Anthony Herrera allowed Anderson to score and advanced another runner to 2nd. Anderson scored on a single by Ryan Sabo to make the game 3-2. Chase Catercame in the game and forced a double play to end the inning.
The game stayed 3-2 until the bottom of the 8th where the Warhawks were able to add some insurance runs. Turner Francis had his second double of the game with one out. Brady McGehee pinch hit and hit a ball toward the first baseman who let it go past him to score Francis. Brian Barefoot added the final runs of the game on a 2-run home run over the left field wall.
Anthonoy Herrera earned his first save of the season, setting the Salukis down in order in the 9th.
The Warhawks return to action Tuesday for a night as they travel to Jackson State for a 6 P.M. first pitch.