Lussier gets win, Huggins goes deep in Illinois State win

Former Okotoks Dawg Jordan Lussier (Winnipeg, Man.) gained his third win as Illinois State beat Southern Illinois.

April 3, 2021

Official Illinois State News Release

NORMAL, Ill. – Third-year sophomore Hayden Jones blasted a pair of home runs on at Itchy Jones Stadium, leading the Illinois State Redbirds in a 6-3 win and 8-4 loss against Southern Illinois.

Jones was 5-for-8 on the day, adding five RBIs to his two home runs for Illinois State (10-15 overall, 2-1 Missouri Valley Conference).

Fifth-year senior Jordan Libman was 4-for-8 with two RBIs and a run scored while second-year freshman Jordan Lussier (Winnipeg, Man.) was credited with the win in the opening game, throwing five innings, allowing three runs and fanning seven. Lussier upped his record to 3-1 in his 96-pitch outing.

Ben Chapman threw the first four innings for Southern Illinois (20-5 overall, 4-3 MVC) in Game 1. Chapman caught the final three innings before starting behind the plate in the nightcap. He reached base three times.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1

SIU scored the game’s first two runs but the ‘Birds tied it up in the 2nd inning with a Jones single and a 13-pitch bases-loaded walk drawn by fourth-year junior Kyle Soberano.

Jones added another RBI single before smashing a two-run home run to put ISU up, 5-2.

Former Edmonton Prospect Aiden Huggins (Edmonton, Alta.) hit a solo homer.

The Salukis got one back in the 5th but fifth-year junior, lead-off man Aidan Huggins (Edmonton, Alta.) homered with one out in the sixth to put the Redbirds ahead 6-3 after six innings. It was Huggins’ first home run since May 17, 2019.

Third-year sophomore Derek Salata recorded a two-inning save.

Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) doubled for Southern Ilinois.

Game 2

The Salukis scored in the first inning before a third inning two-run hit by Libman put the Redbirds up, 2-1.

SIU responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning prior to a home run by Jones in the 4th.

A Redbird error in the 6th inning ultimately resulted in two Saluki runs, pushing the SIU lead to 7-4.

Peters was 3-for-3 with an run knocked in and two steals for the Salukis.

SIU added one more run before the game was completed.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Game 1

Salata recorded his fourth save of 2021 and now has seven-straight scoreless appearances.

Jones recorded a career-high four RBI (and tied a career-high with three hits).

Game 2

Libman now has hits in 22 of 25 games in 2021. He had scored in 10-straight games but did not cross the plate in game two.

First-year freshman Luke Cheng came in as a defensive replacement at first base and has played all four infield spots to start his career.

Fourth-year sophomore Garrett Witcher recorded 1 1/3 scoreless frames.