Southern Illinois University lost both games of a doubleheader against the University of Illinois Chicago on March 21, suffering walk-off defeats in each contest despite a strong performance from Jacob McKenzie, who recorded seven runs batted in.
The losses mark a setback for Southern Illinois as they fall to 1-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play and 9-13 overall. The team was unable to hold late leads in both games, allowing UIC to secure victories with decisive hits in the final innings.
In the first game, Southern Illinois took an early lead with home runs from Jackson Dibble and Julio Guerrero. McKenzie contributed significantly with a two-run home run and additional RBIs throughout the game. However, UIC rallied in the seventh inning with back-to-back home runs and capitalized on relief pitching struggles from Southern Illinois. Despite tying the game in the ninth inning, Southern Illinois ultimately lost 10-9 after Jake Busson delivered a walk-off single for UIC.
The second game saw starting pitcher Troy Shepard deliver over seven innings with nine strikeouts. Tim Simay’s two-run single and another two-run double by McKenzie gave Southern Illinois an advantage heading into the later innings. However, Vidal Colon tied the game for UIC with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. In extra innings, Busson again secured victory for UIC with a solo home run, resulting in a 6-5 loss for Southern Illinois.
Southern Illinois will look to rebound when it faces UT Martin on Tuesday night at 5 p.m. Fans can follow updates about the team through their official social media channels.
