Illinois State committed three errors, which led to eight unearned Southern Illinois runs, and fell to SIU 10-1 Saturday in Missouri Valley action at Redbird Field. Only one game was played on Saturday due to the weather. The two teams will play two on Sunday.
Taking the loss for Illinois State was Josh Kauten (0-6). Katuen pitched five innings and did not give up an earned run in the game. He allowed nine hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Picking up the win for Southern Illinois was Josh Joiner (1-2). He went all nine innings allowing no earned runs and striking out a career-high 10 batters.
Southern Illinois (16-24-1, 10-11-1) got four runs in the first inning off Kauten, all with two outs. With the bases load, Kauten dropped a fly ball on the infield allowing two runs to score and prolong the inning, during which two more Salukis would score.
Illinois State would get on the board in the bottom half of the first, as Nate Whitney would come in to score from third base on a passed ball for the first and only Redbird run.
After picking up a run in the third to take a 5-1 lead, Southern would score three more in the fifth and two more in the sixth off of Redbird reliever Dan Frega to take 10-1 lead.
Illinois State and Southern Illinois will play two games Sunday, with game one beginning at noon at Redbird Field. Todd Stein will pitch in game one for ISU, which will be a seven-inning game, and Kyle Zaleski will make the start in game two on Sunday.
