Southern Illinois 5, Evansville 4 – 12 innings Recap

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With their backs against the wall, the University of Evansville baseball team demonstrated heart in battling Southern Illinois through nine innings and then some, before finally falling on a heartbreaking reversal in extra innings, falling to the Salukis in a Missouri Valley Conference tournament elimination game, 5-4.

The Purple Aces struck early, as senior third baseman Stewart Nelson led off the game with a double to right-center. Nelson would later score on a ground out to second by senior right fielder Dalton Horstmeier, putting Evansville out in front early.

On the hill, head coach Wes Carroll turned to sophomore right hander Adam Lukas, who looked sharp early, holding the potent Saluki line-up scoreless through the opening frames. However, back-to-back walks to open the third innings landed Lukas in hot water, and SIU took advantage. Southern Illinois would go onto knot things up, but that’s all, as Lukas recovered to prevent any more damage.

Knotted at one in the fourth, Lukas, after registering an out, hit one batter, walked another, then with runners on the corners, Kenton Crawford singled to center, driving in the go-ahead tally. The Salukis then load up the bases on the sophomore hurler, then Lukas walked in another run, putting UE down 3-1 after four innings.

Lukas would finally give way to the Aces bullpen in the fifth, and junior Austin Allinger and senior Ryan Brady came together to hold Southern Illinois scoreless through the next 2 2/3 fames.

In the seventh, Evansville would fight their way back into the game, as singles by freshman Evan Aders and sophomore Craig Shepherd put runners on the corners. Stewart Nelson would bring in Aders, hitting into a fielder’s choice, drawing the Aces within one at 3-2.

Then in the eighth, Evansville would strike again, as singles by sophomore Troy Beilsmith and Shepherd had UE threatening again. Freshman infielder Tanner Craig came up clutch, driving in Beilsmith for the equalizer. Then, Evan Aders ripped a double down the right field line, bringing in Shepherd, giving the Aces a 4-3 lead.

Brady would take that lead into the eighth, and that’s where he would leave it, as Connor Kopach tagged him for a game tying single, knotting the game up at 4.  Brady would recover to keep the game tied heading to the ninth.

Dalton Horstmeier came in from right field to pitch a scoreless ninth, to force extra innings. The seniorutilityman would come back to keep the Salukis off the board in the tenth inning, then yielded to fellow senior right hander Jimmy Ward, who struck out the two batters he faced, ending the 11th still knotted at 4.

In the 12th, freshman Jace Burke came out of the bullpen, however his luck didn’t hold up, walking the first batter he faced, then hitting the next batter, and Southern Illinois had the game-winning in scoring position. Burke was lifted in favor of sophomore left hander Nathan Croner. Logan Blackfan lifted a single to right, sending Connor Kopach home. Horstmeier, back in right field came up throwing, hitting senior catcher Travis Tokarek, who applied the tag, andKopach was ruled out at home.

However, Southern Illinois protested the call, which was reviewed, and the call was reversed, giving the Salukis a walk-off 5-4 victory, and ending Evansville season.

“Our seniors left it all on the field today,” said Carroll. “I’m proud of their effort. Unfortunate that the play at the plate was overturned and didn’t go our way.”

The loss brings UE’s season to an end with a 12-39 mark, while Southern Illinois advances in the MVC tournament with a 28-29 record.