MONROE, La. – Southern Illinois scratched across single runs in each of the first three innings, added an insurance run in the sixth inning, and then blew the game open with a five-run eighth inning, as the Salukis topped ULM, 11-3, Saturday night at Warhawk Field.
 
ULM (1-1) sophomore Carson Jones hit a two-out, 2-RBI double in the second inning to tie the game at 2, but the Warhawks were unable to score again until there were two outs in the ninth inning.
 
"We didn't play well," ULM head coach Michael Federico said. "We've got to pitch better than that. We walked the leadoff batter of the game after walking one batter last night. It's been a tale of two games."
 
SIU opened the scoring in the first inning when Zach Jensen reached on a two-out infield single to shortstop, plating Cody Cleveland for the 1-0 advantage.
 
The Salukis doubled the lead in the second inning when Ryan Rodriguez hit an RBI groundout to first base, scoring Pier-Olivier Boucher, to go up 2-0.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the second, ULM sophomore Caleb Sterling singled to centerfield and Ryan Cupit followed with an infield single off a checked swing. Jones then ripped his double down the left field line to plate both Sterling and Cupit to knot the game at 2.
 
However, SIU answered quickly. In the top of the third, Jensen doubled and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Boucher picked up an RBI single to score Jensen for the 3-2 lead.
 
ULM had a scoring chance in the fourth inning. Sophomore Michelle Artzberger reached on an infield single to the left side and Sterling followed with a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third with one out. However, a strikeout and flyout quickly ended the threat.
 
The Salukis added to the lead in the sixth. Boucher hit a leadoff single to second base and advanced to second when Ryan Rodriguez reached on an error. A walk to Cleveland loaded the bases. A wild pitch allowed Boucher to come home for the 4-2 lead.
 
ULM had another chance in the bottom of the sixth inning, using an error to get senior Grant Schulz on base before junior Travis Washburn followed with a bunt single on the first base side to put runners on first and second with no outs. However, a strikeout, fielder's choice and a fly out brought an end to the inning with no damage done.
 
SIU broke the game open with five runs in the eighth inning, including a 2-RBI single by Jeremy Schork, one of his three hits on the day, to extend the lead to 9-2. The Salukis added two more runs in the top of the ninth on RBI doubles for Kaeber Rog and J.T. Weber. ULM scratched across a run in the bottom of the ninth when sophomore Michael Cervantes scored on Washburn's sacrifice fly for the final 11-3 margin.
 
Sterling led ULM with two hits while Jones had two RBIs. Schork had three hits and two RBIs, including a double, for SIU, while Rog, Weber, Jensen and Boucher had two hits apiece for SIU. Rog and Jensen also drove in two runs each.
 
Mike Hansell (1-0) picked up the win in relief for SIU, throwing three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts to one walk. ULM starter and junior Tylor Jans (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
 
"It was good that Jans gave up just one and didn't give up the big innings," Federico said. "Carson Jones came up with a big double early to tie it. But we didn't play good. We didn't coach well. We didn't get bunts down. We didn't know the outs. We didn't execute in really any facet of the game tonight.
 
"Hopefully it's something we can learn from," Federico said. "It's early in the year. But I don't want to be saying that all the time. With this older team, we shouldn't be having those things happen to us. We'll make some adjustments."
 
The Warhawks and Salukis play the rubber match of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday at Warhawk Field.