Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois suffered a heavy defeat against Valparaiso, conceding 24 runs in an eight-inning game on Friday. This loss places the Salukis as the third seed for the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference Championship.

Valpo's reliever Lucas Foley contributed significantly by delivering three scoreless innings, enabling his team to secure a 10-run lead by the eighth inning. Southern Illinois' starting pitcher Jackson Payne was pulled out early after Valpo scored five runs in the first inning, putting pressure on Southern's bullpen.

Michael Mylott managed an RBI single in the second inning, but Valpo extended their lead with two more runs. Despite this setback, Southern rallied with a six-run third inning, highlighted by Jaxon Holder's solo home run and further contributions from Kaleb Hall, Tim Simay, Gabe Petrucelli, and Matthew Simay. This offensive surge gave Southern a temporary one-run lead.

However, Valparaiso regained control with assistance from four errors committed by Southern within four innings. Tim Simay attempted to ignite another comeback with his fifth home run of the season in the fifth inning. The Salukis briefly reclaimed the lead thanks to John Lemm's three-run homer.

Valpo starter Connor Lockwood remained resilient through five innings despite allowing numerous runs and secured the win after his team retook and maintained their lead. Lucas Foley earned his first save of the season with his performance.

Jaxon Holder stood out for SIU with three hits, including a home run and three RBIs. Tyler Timmerman took the loss for Southern Illinois.

The Salukis aim to finish their regular season positively in Saturday's match at 1 p.m. CT. Fans can watch live coverage on ESPN Plus or listen via Varsity Network.

For updates on Southern Illinois baseball, follow them on social media platforms such as X (@SIU_Baseball), Facebook (Facebook.com/SalukiBaseball), and Instagram (@SIU_Baseball). The "Salukis" Mobile App is also available for download on both iOS and Android devices.