Southern Illinois University’s baseball team was defeated by UNLV 16-8 on Saturday morning at U.S. Bank Stadium during the Cambria College Classic in Minneapolis. The Salukis, now with a record of 5-8, scored eight runs on 11 hits and managed to put runs on the board in each of the last three innings.
UNLV, improving to 11-5 for the season, took an early lead with one run in the first inning and added four more in the second for a 5-0 advantage. Southern Illinois responded in the seventh inning when Jacob McKenzie hit a two-run triple to right field, bringing home Kaleb Hall and Tim Simay after a misplay by the right fielder. Michael Mylott then reached base on a fielder’s choice that allowed McKenzie to score, narrowing the gap to 5-3.
UNLV extended its lead with a ten-run eighth inning. In response, Julio Guerrero tripled later that inning to drive in Andrew Savage and Kristian Sprawling, while another run scored due to an error, making it 15-6.
The Salukis continued their effort in the ninth as Sprawling hit a two-run home run to left field, scoring Blake Kimball and closing out SIU’s scoring at eight runs.
Guerrero led Southern Illinois offensively by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. McKenzie also drove in two runs with his triple, while Sprawling had two RBIs from his home run. Simay, Hall, Savage, and Kimball each scored once for SIU.
Pitcher Meade Johnson started for Southern Illinois and was charged with the loss. Dawson Hargrove and Josh Hyneman pitched several innings of relief before UNLV’s big eighth-inning rally.
Southern Illinois is scheduled to conclude its participation in the Cambria College Classic on Sunday against South Dakota State.
