Carbondale Reporter

John Lemm and Tim Simay spearheaded a strong offensive showing for Southern Illinois, guiding the team to a 16-9 victory against Indiana State on Saturday at Bob Warn Field. The Salukis were quick to recover from their defeat on Friday, securing 13 hits in the process.

Lemm was instrumental, ending the match 2-for-4 with a home run and two walks, while Simay contributed by going 3-for-6, making crucial hits that secured an early lead for the team. The game saw Southern Illinois take charge early with Lemm driving in Matt Schark in the first inning. Indiana State briefly gained a 2-1 advantage in the second, but the Salukis responded robustly with five runs in both the third and fourth innings to regain control.

Gabe Petrucelli, Simay, and Kaleb Hall were key in the Salukis' third inning performance. Petrucelli and Simay each secured two-run hits, while Hall added an RBI groundout. In the fourth, Simay, again, delivered with a two-run single. The Salukis extended their lead further with runs in the fifth, seventh, and ninth innings, the latter featuring Lemm's 11th homer of the season.

Alec Nigut claimed the win on the mound, allowing three runs over five innings and striking out five. Dylan Petrey provided solid relief to wrap up the game. Despite the loss, Indiana State put up 14 hits, including two homers by Cesar Pena and additional ones from Mike Roell and Alex Ortiz.

The series concludes on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.