Even after a shutout game against Eastern Illinois, the Red Wolves couldn’t win their game against Southern Illinois on Tuesday. Although the Red Wolves scored their first five run game, they still lost 7-5.

Southern Illinois struck first and early, scoring two in the first inning on a double and a sacrifice fly. The bottom of the first resulted in a four and out for the Red Wolves. Right fielder Wil French got a double but was thrown out at home soon after. 

Photo by Abigail Leggett | Staff Photographer

Southern Illinois scored another run during the top of the second but nothing else happened until the top of the fourth after Southern Illinois got bases loaded. A double play got enough outs to get the Red Wolves out of the inning. 

The bottom of the fourth gave the Red Wolves some much needed momentum. Third baseman Daedrick Cail got a double on the third pitch. Shortstop Patrick Engskov was walked by Salukis’ starting pitcher Tyler Timmerman before left fielder Cason Campbell made it to first. 

Once again French proved vital for the Red Wolves, as he smacked a double to bring two Red Wolves across home. But the next at bat, French was caught in a rundown between third and home, ending the inning with the score at 4-3 for the Salukis. 

Nobody scored again until the bottom of the sixth, with French getting yet another RBI as Cason Campbell scored on French’s sacrifice fly to tie the game 4-4.

After a pitcher change, Southern Illinois scored again at the top of the eighth, making the game 7-5.

The Red Wolves scored one more time during the game but it wasn’t enough. First basemen Cason Tollett hit a sacrifice fly which let catcher Kaden Amundson score. 

Freshman pitcher Tyler Weimer got the start on the mound for the Red Wolves, pitching for 2.2 innings and allowing six hits and three runs. Starting pitcher Jelle van der Lelie came in to relieve him at the top of the third. Lelie pitched for four innings, allowing four hits and two runs.

Lelie stayed in the game until a controversial call from the third base umpire that coach Ryan Silva didn’t challenge, calling a SIU player safe when he should have been out. The next play, that player scored on a sacrifice fly, making the game 5-4 SIU. 

Photo by Abigail Leggett | Staff Photographer

Reliever Carson Keithley came in the game after Lelie to pitch, pitching for less than an inning, he walked a player then the next player got a double, resulting in two runs for his stats. First-year pitcher Andrew Allen pitched for the rest of the game, being the only Red Wolf with strikeouts, recording two and giving up one hit. 

Wil French led the Red Wolves in hits, going 4/4 during his at bats including three runs batted in. 

Southern Illinois pitcher Blaine Harpenau, who used to play for the Red Wolves, got the save for the game, pitching in the final two innings. Salukis reliever Cole Koonce got the win for Southern Illinois while A-State’s van der Lelie got the loss. 

After this loss, the Red Wolves is  2-6 on the season but look to improve that record at home against the Southeast Missouri State RedHawks before playing a series on the road against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. 

Categories: Sports