CARBONDALE, IL – Southern Illinois erupted for 10 hits, and scored three runs in the fifth inning en route to a 4-0 win over the Northern Illinois University baseball team Friday afternoon at Itchy Jones Stadium.

The Salukis came away with their third-straight win, and sixth of the season as their high-octane offense sent Huskies' starting pitcher George Faue (Corcoan, Minn./Iowa Central) to his fourth loss of the year.

"Today started out as a typical Friday pitcher's duel," Huskies' head coach Mike Kunigonis said. "They eventually got to us and we could never get settled in offensively."

NIU (4-8) managed six hits, but their offense was stymied by Salukis' starter Michael Baird, who retired nine batters in a row at one point. Senior Donovin Sims (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) rivaled Baird's performance as he came on in relief for Faue and retired all 11 batters he faced, fanning two.

"Donovin did a nice job coming in and settling things down to give us a chance," Kunigonis said. "But it wasn't meant to be."

After SIU took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly, three run-scoring singles in the fifth pushed the hosts lead to what ended up being the final verdict.

Hunter Bross (Scottsdale, Ariz./Mesa Community College) led the Huskies' offense as he went 2 for 3. Brad Wood (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence), Jake Dunham (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) and Joe Jumonville (Munster, Ind./Munster) all had hits, while Scooter Bynum (Fairbanks, Alaska /Arizona Western College) connected for the Huskies' lone extra base hit – a double in the ninth inning.

"We need to focus on coming out tomorrow with energy, passion and compete with every pitch," Kunigonis said.

Originally scheduled as a three-game series, NIU and SIU will now play a doubleheader tomorrow due to the threat of rain Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

--NIU--