By: KSU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga. – Ronnie Freeman homered in the first inning, but Southern Illinois came back with six unanswered runs as the Salukis held off Kennesaw State, 9-6, on Friday evening at Stillwell Stadium.
After Freeman’s second home run of the season, Southern Illinois (7-17) struck quickly with a pair of runs in the second inning. The Salukis were able to rough up Josh Carr (3-2), who pitched just four innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits.
Sean Fream, who was making just his second relief appearance of the year, entered in the game in the fifth inning and was able to keep the Owls within striking distance as he allowed just one earned run and five hits in four innings of work.
Trailing, 6-1, in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Owls rallied and scored a run on an RBI-single to left center field by Sean McClurken. Aaron Dobbs (1-for-4) followed with a single and a walk to Freeman chased reliever Todd Eaton, who lasted just one-third of an inning.
Tyler Dray came in to face Andy Chriscaden, and the Owls leading home run hitter launched a 2-2 pitch to deep right-center field that chased Southern Illinois’ Nick Johnson to the wall where he reached up and robbed Chriscaden of the game-tying grand slam.
The Salukis added two runs in the eighth and a run in the top of the ninth before Chriscaden got his home run in the bottom of the ninth. The junior extended his hitting streak to 11 games when he ripped his seventh home run of the year, a three-run shot to left field that made the score, 9-6.
The Owls (16-12) saw its offense struggle through the first six innings against starter Cameron Maldonado. The right-hander, who had just one win and an ERA close to eight entering the game, shut down the Owls on just three hits with seven strikeouts.
Kennesaw State and Southern Illinois will continue their three-game series on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The game be followed via live stats.
