By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Another strong offensive performance lifted Southern Illinois past the Tennessee Tech baseball team in Monday's series finale, as the Salukis out-paced the purple and gold, 10-4, at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Southern Illinois (3-3) wasted little time in making its mark on the contest, doubling down the left-field line to open the day and driving in the first run of the ball game with an RBI single up the middle. Tech (6-2) followed it up with a double play and another ground out, embarking on a run of three scoreless innings by the pitching staff.
With rookie starter Carter Casabella in control on the mound, the Golden Eagle bats looked to sophomore catcher Mack Whitcomb to get back in the contest. The slugger delivered with a lead-off long ball to right-center field, squaring the game at 1-1 with his third round-tripper of the season.
Pitching for both sides cruised into the fifth inning, where the Saluki bats broke out in style. SIU used four extra-base hits in the frame to plate four runs, pushing out to a 5-1 advantage.
The Cookeville crew battled back over the next two frames, with right fielder Luke Bragga kicking things off with a base knock to right field. The redshirt freshman's first career RBI cut the deficit to three in the bottom of the fifth.
Moving on to the sixth, the purple and gold went back to work by loading the bases with two walks and a single. Center fielder Nicho Jordan secured the team's third free pass of the inning to drive in another run before left fielder Landon Smelser pulled the Golden Eagles within one with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Salukis took advantage of a miscue by the Tech defense with two outs in the top of the eighth, immediately gathering a two-run triple down the right-field line following the error. Southern Illinois doubled its three-run lead to six in the top of the ninth, picking up its third home run of the day with a three-run shot to right field.
For the second straight game, the Golden Eagle bats struggled to rack up hits, finishing the day with five off the Saluki staff. SIU piled up 12 knocks in the contest, including nine across its three big innings.
Whitcomb led the Tech offense with a 2-for-3 day, two runs, and an RBI. On the mound, Patrick Johnson turned in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen without allowing a run, fanning a pair of batters while scattering two hits. Juan Vargas surrendered just two, unearned runs in an otherwise solid 2.0 frames of relief, also striking out a pair.
The Golden Eagles will hit the road for the first time in the 2025 season Tuesday afternoon, heading to Nashville for a 4:30 p.m. CT tilt against No. 12 Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field.
Photo by Jim Dillon
