Sunday, March 20
Carbondale, Ill.
1 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
15-5
7
vs
5
Illinois
7-10
1
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
R
H
E
Illinois
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
5
12
0
Southern Illinois
0
0
0
0
3
0
2
0
0
2
7
15
1
Rodriguez walk-off HR gives SIU 7-5 win, series win v UI
03/20/2022 | 4:37:00 | Baseball
Carbondale, Il. – SIU Baseball's first season-series win over Illinois in 5 years and its first in Carbondale in 8 years was dramatic. 1B (turned SS in the 10th inning), Ryan Rodriguez, slammed a long two run home run to left field with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Salukis (15-5) a 7-5 win over the Illini (7-10). The 2 games to 1 series win was SIU's first season series win over the Illini since it took 2 of 3 from UI in Champaign in 2017. It was the Salukis' first series win over the Illini in Carbondale since SIU took two 2 of 3 in 2014.
Rodriguez, batting two hitters after teammate Grey Epps had singled, slammed his second home run of the season on the first pitch he saw from Illinois reliever and losing pitcher Ty Rybarczyk (0-1, 2 saves). "I knew off the bat it was gone," said SIU Coach Lance Rhodes of Rodriguez' home run. "It was a really well-played game, both sides."
The Salukis played uphill the first four innings of the game. They fell behind 1-0 3 hitters into the game on Justin Janas' RBI double off Saluki starter Ben Chapman. Two hitters later UI RF Cam McDonald drove in Janas to make it 2-0 UI.
SIU didn't score until it had fallen behind 3-0. Batting in the bottom of the 5th inning, pinch hitter Zack Jensen and CF JT Weber hit back-to-back singles after Rodriguez' lead-off walk. It was Weber's 22nd RBI of the season. SS Kaeber Rog greeted reliever Ryan Kutt with an RBI single. Two hitters later LF Nathan Bandy drove in Weber with a SF.
Illinois grabbed a 4-3 lead with one out in the 7th inning on McDonald's RBI infield single. McDonald's hit also loaded the bases with one out. However, Saluki reliever Matthew Steidl limited the damage by retiring the next two hitters to keep the score Illinois 4 SIU 3.
SIU took the lead in the bottom of the 7th inning. With one out Jensen singled to left field. Two hitters later Rog moved Jensen to third base with a double. After 3B Cody Cleveland walked, LF Nathan Bandy drove in Jensen and Rog with a single to make it 5-4 in favor of SIU.
That lead was short-lived. Three hitters into the top of the eighth inning Illinois tied the game 5-5 on OF Danny Doligale's RBI double.
The Saluki stranded the tie-breaking in run in each of the eighth and ninth innings. Jensen grounded out to third with Epps at second base to end an 8th inning threat. McDonald quashed SIU's 9th inning bid to tie and win the game with a diving catch of C Nick Hagedorn's two out blooper. McDonald made the catch as he landed on the left field foul lane.
In the top of 9th inning, Illinois SS Cal Hejza got a one-out single off Saluki reliever Trey McDaniel (2-0). After Hejza stole second base, McDaniel retired the next two hitters on ground outs to set the stage for Rodriguez' game-winning heroics.
Epps led off the decisive Saluki tenth with a single to left field. RF Evan Martin moved Epps to second base with a ground out. Then, Rodriguez homered ending SIU's first extra inning game of the season.
SALUKI NOTES: The win was SIU's first walk-off victory since 3/7/20 and its 3rd under Rhodes … the Salukis scored 28 runs on 39 hits in the three game series … Weber, 1 for 15 lifetime vs UI in 6 career games coming into the series, was 6 for 13 this weekend … he raised his batting average from .431 to .433 this weekend … he is still in ninth place all-time at SIU in home runs as he did not homer in the series, but he scored 4 runs … Rog raised his BA to .411 with a 7 for 15 series … Rog delivered 4 RBIs and 4 runs scored in the series … Bandy led SIU with 5 series RBIs … he also scored 3 runs … Sunday's winning pitcher McDaniel is 1-1 lifetime vs. Illinois … the 3 games this weekend were SIU's first games vs. UI under Rhodes … SIU is 3-2 in extra-inning games under Rhodes … Illinois Coach Dan Hartleb, an SIU grad, is 25-16 vs. his alma mater … SIU tied the all-time series vs. Illinois at 42 wins apiece with Sunday's victory … Sunday's win was SIU's 1,982nd win in the 75-year history of its baseball program.
Here's how the game winning home run sounded on Saluki Radio: https://soundcloud.com/mikereis-siu/ryan-rodriguez-gw-hr-vs-illinois
Here is Coach Lance Rhodes post game on Saluki Radio: https://siusalukis.com/watch/?Archive=6249&type=Archive
Rodriguez, batting two hitters after teammate Grey Epps had singled, slammed his second home run of the season on the first pitch he saw from Illinois reliever and losing pitcher Ty Rybarczyk (0-1, 2 saves). "I knew off the bat it was gone," said SIU Coach Lance Rhodes of Rodriguez' home run. "It was a really well-played game, both sides."
The Salukis played uphill the first four innings of the game. They fell behind 1-0 3 hitters into the game on Justin Janas' RBI double off Saluki starter Ben Chapman. Two hitters later UI RF Cam McDonald drove in Janas to make it 2-0 UI.
SIU didn't score until it had fallen behind 3-0. Batting in the bottom of the 5th inning, pinch hitter Zack Jensen and CF JT Weber hit back-to-back singles after Rodriguez' lead-off walk. It was Weber's 22nd RBI of the season. SS Kaeber Rog greeted reliever Ryan Kutt with an RBI single. Two hitters later LF Nathan Bandy drove in Weber with a SF.
Illinois grabbed a 4-3 lead with one out in the 7th inning on McDonald's RBI infield single. McDonald's hit also loaded the bases with one out. However, Saluki reliever Matthew Steidl limited the damage by retiring the next two hitters to keep the score Illinois 4 SIU 3.
SIU took the lead in the bottom of the 7th inning. With one out Jensen singled to left field. Two hitters later Rog moved Jensen to third base with a double. After 3B Cody Cleveland walked, LF Nathan Bandy drove in Jensen and Rog with a single to make it 5-4 in favor of SIU.
That lead was short-lived. Three hitters into the top of the eighth inning Illinois tied the game 5-5 on OF Danny Doligale's RBI double.
The Saluki stranded the tie-breaking in run in each of the eighth and ninth innings. Jensen grounded out to third with Epps at second base to end an 8th inning threat. McDonald quashed SIU's 9th inning bid to tie and win the game with a diving catch of C Nick Hagedorn's two out blooper. McDonald made the catch as he landed on the left field foul lane.
In the top of 9th inning, Illinois SS Cal Hejza got a one-out single off Saluki reliever Trey McDaniel (2-0). After Hejza stole second base, McDaniel retired the next two hitters on ground outs to set the stage for Rodriguez' game-winning heroics.
Epps led off the decisive Saluki tenth with a single to left field. RF Evan Martin moved Epps to second base with a ground out. Then, Rodriguez homered ending SIU's first extra inning game of the season.
SALUKI NOTES: The win was SIU's first walk-off victory since 3/7/20 and its 3rd under Rhodes … the Salukis scored 28 runs on 39 hits in the three game series … Weber, 1 for 15 lifetime vs UI in 6 career games coming into the series, was 6 for 13 this weekend … he raised his batting average from .431 to .433 this weekend … he is still in ninth place all-time at SIU in home runs as he did not homer in the series, but he scored 4 runs … Rog raised his BA to .411 with a 7 for 15 series … Rog delivered 4 RBIs and 4 runs scored in the series … Bandy led SIU with 5 series RBIs … he also scored 3 runs … Sunday's winning pitcher McDaniel is 1-1 lifetime vs. Illinois … the 3 games this weekend were SIU's first games vs. UI under Rhodes … SIU is 3-2 in extra-inning games under Rhodes … Illinois Coach Dan Hartleb, an SIU grad, is 25-16 vs. his alma mater … SIU tied the all-time series vs. Illinois at 42 wins apiece with Sunday's victory … Sunday's win was SIU's 1,982nd win in the 75-year history of its baseball program.
Here's how the game winning home run sounded on Saluki Radio: https://soundcloud.com/mikereis-siu/ryan-rodriguez-gw-hr-vs-illinois
Here is Coach Lance Rhodes post game on Saluki Radio: https://siusalukis.com/watch/?Archive=6249&type=Archive
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McDaniel, Trey (2-0)
L: Rybarczyk,Ty (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Doligale,Danny 2 ; Comia,Branden 1 ; Janas,Justin 2
RBI: Doligale,Danny 1 ; Janas,Justin 2 ; McDonald,Cam 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Doligale,Danny 1 ; Comia,Branden 2 ; Janas,Justin 1 ; Hejza,Cal 1
SB: Harding,Brody 1
HBP: Doligale,Danny 1
Batting:
2B: Rog, Kaeber 2 ; Cleveland, Cody 2 ; Martin, Evan 1
HR: Rodriguez, Ryan 1
RBI: Weber, J.T. 1 ; Rog, Kaeber 1 ; Bandy, Nathan 3 ; Rodriguez, Ryan 2
SH: Martin, Evan 1
SF: Bandy, Nathan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jensen, Zack 2 ; Weber, J.T. 1 ; Rog, Kaeber 1 ; Epps, Grey 1 ; Rodriguez, Ryan 2
CS: Rog, Kaeber 1
HBP: Epps, Grey 1 ; Rodriguez, Ryan 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
4
RBI
1
ph/dh
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
cf/1b
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
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RHP
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C
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RHP
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