Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's baseball team faced a challenging start in their Valley opener against UIC, resulting in a 17-6 defeat at Itchy Jones Stadium. Despite an early lead, the Salukis could not withstand UIC's strong performance, particularly in the ninth inning.

The game began promisingly for Southern Illinois (13-7, 0-1 MVC) as they took the lead in the third inning. Matt Schark hit a two-run double and Cecil Lofton followed with an RBI double, giving them a 3-0 advantage. UIC (4-16, 1-0 MVC) scored in the fourth inning but SIU extended their lead to 4-1 when Gabe Petrucelli hit an RBI double.

UIC responded with vigor in the fifth inning, scoring four runs and taking the lead at 5-4 after Jackson Bessette's two-run home run. The Salukis managed to close the gap to 7-6 by the seventh inning thanks to Schark's two-run homer.

However, UIC sealed their victory with a nine-run surge in the ninth inning. AJ Taylor's three-run homer and Luke Nowak's two-run triple were pivotal moments that put the game out of reach for Southern Illinois.

Dylan Petrey (2-2) took the loss for SIU after allowing three runs over two and a third innings. Dillon Schueller (1-5) secured the win for UIC by pitching six complete innings with four runs allowed on seven hits.

The Saluki pitching staff struggled throughout, surrendering 12 walks and five wild pitches while committing six errors during the game. Offensively, Schark led SIU by going 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Despite these efforts, UIC outhit Southern Illinois 17-9.

Looking ahead, Southern Illinois will continue their series against UIC with a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m., followed by a second game approximately 45 minutes later. Both games will be available on ESPN Plus.

Fans can stay updated on all things related to Saluki baseball through social media platforms such as X (@SIU_Baseball), Facebook (Facebook.com/SalukiBaseball), Instagram (@SIU_Baseball), or by downloading the "Salukis" Mobile App from app stores.