CARBONDALE, Ill. – Little Rock steadily built a four-run lead through seven innings, then used an explosive ninth inning to power past 22nd-ranked Southern Illinois 11-5 to even the weekend series at Itchy Jones Stadium.
The win for the Trojans marks just the second time this season the Salukis have come up on the short end while the six-run deficit hands Southern Illinois its largest margin of defeat this season. The 11 runs scored by Little Rock is the most surrendered by the Salukis this season as well.
After battling the Salukis to a hard-fought 10-7 loss Friday night, Little Rock raced out to a 3-0 lead through five innings, getting the bats going in the top of the second as John Michael Russ plated the first run of the game, scoring off a fielder's choice from Kobe Barnum after leading off the inning with a single.