MVC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 5 – No. 5 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 5, No. 8 EVANSVILLE 4 (12 Innings) 

DALLAS, TEXAS – Fifth-seeded Southern Illinois pulled out a thrilling 12-inning win via a walk-off play at the plate, eliminating No. 8 Evansville 5-4.  The 12-inning contest was tied for the fourth longest game in MVC Tournament history. The Salukis remain alive and await the loser of the Missouri State/Indiana State game, while the Aces were eliminated from the tournament.

Logan Blackfan hit a single in the 12th, and Nikola Vasic was called out at home plate; but after video review, the call was reversed when replay showed Vasic getting his hand to the plate before the tag was applied. 

The game went back-and-forth during the regulation nine innings. After Evansville's early 1-0 lead, the Salukis (28-29) scored three unanswered runs to take a 3-1 lead. Evansville (12-39) regained the lead in the eighth, but Connor Kopach tied the game with a clutch two-out RBI single in the bottom of the inning. The game went to the 12th before Blackfan's walk-off RBI single.

Kopach—who had two clutch hits late in yesterday's game against Indiana State (a go-ahead homer and game-tying double)—came through again today. With SIU trailing 4-3 in the eighth inning, Nikola Vasic drew a two-out walk in the eighth inning and stole second. Kopach singled in an 0-2 count to tie the game.

SIU pulled out the win despite setting an MVC record with 17 men left on base. The Salukis drew 14 walks and had four batters hit by a pitch.

Southern Illinois improved to 28-29 with the victory, while Evansville ends its season at 12-39.