Baseball Falls to Southern Illinois in Extra-Innings Heartbreaker

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Playing in their third extra-innings contest in less than a week, the Belmont University baseball team lost a heartbreaker on the road at Southern Illinois, 4-3, in 12 innings on Saturday at Itchy Jones Stadium, in Carbondale, Illinois. 

Belmont (18-15, 5-4 MVC) appeared to have the third out in the 12th sewn up, but a fielding error allowed Southern Illinois (19-14, 8-1 MVC) to score the winning run. 

It marked the second game of series that had gone to extra innings, with Thursday's contest ending on a walk-off Saluki home run in the 11th, and the third extra-innings game of the week, with Belmont defeating Evansville last Sunday in 13 innings. 

Belmont pitching was fantastic the entirety of the day, allowing just two earned runs over 12 innings facing off against the best offense in the MVC. 

Dominic Baratta battled through four tough innings, scattering five hits with two earned runs and a strikeout. 

Simon Tesh continued the strong play of the Bruin bullpen, tossing three scoreless innings on just 34 pitches. 

Will Pryor, after coming on in relief on Thursday, made his second appearance of the series on Saturday and provided a huge boost, throwing two scoreless innings to get Belmont to extra innings with the score tied. 

Jett Thielke (L, 4-1), continued his strong year, working through a scoreless tenth and a scoreless eleventh inning, but was replaced with two outs in the 12th and two Saluki runners on the corners. 

Caleb Guisewite appeared to induce an inning-ending flyout that would have sent the game to a 13th inning, but the ball was dropped and Southern Illinois took advantage of a third Belmont error to win the game. 

Belmont's defense turned five double plays in the game, tied with Georgia State for the most in the country this season. 

Offensively, Belmont mustered six hits, with Max Jones going 2-for-5.  

An RBI single from Blake Barton put Belmont on the board, scoring Jeff Clarke in the fourth inning to bring Belmont within a run at 2-1. 

Belmont later took the lead in the fifth as they loaded the bases before Jeff Clarke drew an RBI walk and Mason Landers took an RBI hit-by-pitch to put the Bruins in front, 3-2. 

Southern Illinois tied things again in the home fifth, 3-3, before both bullpens locked in for six scoreless innings apiece. 

Up Next 

Belmont will travel to Clarksville on Tuesday evening for a midweek game against former OVC rival Austin Peay. 

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. 

The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live audio play-by-play from Dr. Rich Tiner carried on Belmont Bruins Radio on iHeartRadio, and live stats will available on BelmontBruins.com. 

Follow Belmont baseball on social media - @BelmontBaseball on Twitter and @belmontbaseball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.                            

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