The Valparaiso University baseball team fell 7-3 to visiting Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field as the Salukis bounced back from a series-opening setback to level the weekend set at a victory apiece. Valpo grabbed the lead by plating three in the third, but SIU went in front in the fifth and held the advantage for the game’s duration.

How It Happened

• SIU struck first when Steven Loden hit a solo homer in the second.
• Redshirt freshman Patrick Ilitch (Detroit, Mich. / University Liggett [IMG]) clubbed a run-scoring double down the third-base line to tie the game in the third, then he scored the go-ahead run when Nolan Tucker (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central) stroked a single to center. The three-run inning was capped by a Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) RBI single.
• The Salukis got one back in the fourth before grabbing the lead on a two-run shot by Pier-Olivier Boucher in the fifth.
• Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Valpo had runners at first and second with nobody out. A key double play followed by a ground out allowed SIU to escape unscathed.
• SIU added a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to pull away.
• The Beacons threatened in the ninth, when the Saluki pitching staff walked the bases loaded to bring the tying run to the plate, but Valpo could not cash in.

Inside the Game

• Tucker had two hits to lead the team.
• Ilitch’s double was the lone extra-base knock in Valpo’s eight-hit effort.
• Starter Nathan Chasey (Ames, Iowa / Gilbert [Indian Hills CC]) allowed four runs on five hits in five innings and took the loss, while Josh Spencer (Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville [Tacoma]) tossed a scoreless top of the ninth.
• Valpo continued to play shorthanded with four usual starting position players still sidelined by injuries.

Up Next

Valpo (17-20, 8-12) and Southern Illinois will round out the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Emory G. Bauer Field. The game will air on ESPN+.