THE LEAD
In the finale of DBU's three-game series versus Southern Illinois, the Salukis struck for four runs in the third inning and cruised to a 7-0 win over the Patriots.  Despite the loss, DBU (23-11, 4-1) claimed the series over Southern Illinois (21-15-1, 2-4), two games to one.  The Salukis were led by sophomore right-hander Michael Baird, who kept the Patriots scoreless through his six and two-third innings of work.  DBU's Jordan Martinson suffered his first loss of the year, allowing four runs over six innings on the mound.
 
Scoreless in the top of the third, a two-out two-run single by Greg Lambert put the Southern Illinois on top 2-0.  One batter later, Logan Blackfan laced a Martinson pitch to right-center to score two more Saluki runs.
 
Trailing 4-0, the Patriots put pressure on the Salukis in both the fourth and sixth innings, but were unable to push a run across the plate.  In the fourth, DBU had runners at first and second base with one out before Baird wiggled out of the jam by inducing a pair of fly outs off the bats of Luke Stratman and Garrett Wolforth.  In the sixth, Baird escaped a first and third situation by getting Statman to ground out.
Southern Illinois would add another run in the top of the seventh when Ryan Smith led off the innings with his first home run of the year.  The Salukis padded their lead to 7-0 in the ninth when Blackfan ripped his second two-run double of the night.
 
DBU HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER ON SALUKI STARTER MICHAEL BAIRD
"He did a good job of locating down in the zone and everything looked similar out of his hand.  We had some chances against him, but he was able to execute his pitches in those situations.  I would have like to have seen us make a better adjustment at the plate against him the deeper we got into the game."
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The loss marks the first time DBU has been shutout since May 20, 2015, against Indiana State in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
- DBU's 12-game win streak over Southern Illinois was snapped in the 7-0 to the Salukis.
- Despite the loss, the Patriots still own the record in the Missouri Valley Conference (4-1).
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
8 – David Martinelli extended his season-high hit streak to eight games.
8 – The Patriots left eight runners in scoring position.
1 – DBU had one hit in two-out situations.
 
UP NEXT
DBU travels across town to face UT-Arlington on Tuesday night at Clay Gould Ballpark.  First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.