The Southern Illinois Salukis baseball team lost to Murray State 13-1 on April 24 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale. The game ended after seven innings under the run-rule, with Murray State scoring their final runs in the last frame.
This loss is significant for the Salukis as it marks a rare setback for Friday starter Andrew Evans, who was replaced after three innings. Kainen Jorge hit a grand slam for Murray State in the second inning, giving his team an early lead. Evans allowed five earned runs on five hits and took his second loss of the season.
The Salukis had an opportunity to respond in the bottom of the second inning by loading the bases with one out, but could not score as Nic Schutte pitched out of trouble for Murray State. Kyle Mager drove in Southern Illinois’ only run with an RBI single during the third inning. Jorge finished with five RBIs while Luke Mistone added three more for Murray State.
Itchy Jones Stadium, where the game was played, features artificial turf and a modern video board according to the official website. The stadium serves as home field for a program that has recorded five College World Series appearances and fourteen NCAA Tournament appearances according to the official website.
The Southern Illinois Salukis baseball program participates in NCAA Division I within the Missouri Valley Conference and promotes community engagement through its role at Southern Illinois University athletics according to the official website. Legendary coach Richard ‘Itchy’ Jones led Southern Illinois to ten NCAA Tournament appearances and three College World Series berths; his uniform number has been retired by the program according to the official website.
Looking ahead, Southern Illinois will try to even their series against Murray State on Saturday at 2 p.m. The current roster includes about 39 student-athletes according to the official website, reflecting both depth and commitment within their baseball program.
