CARBONDALE, Ill. (Interstat) — Valparaiso Beacons designated hitter Louie Kegerreis went a perfect 6 for 6 with three RBIs, leading his team to a 9-4 Missouri Valley Conference victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis on Friday afternoon at Abe Martin Field.

Kegerreis, who entered the game in a mild slump with just three hits in his previous four games, singled in the first inning to drive home an unearned run and then added two more singles, a double in the eighth and a two-run double in the ninth. His final double, a shot to center field, scored two to cap a three-run ninth inning for Valparaiso. The Beacons pounded out 20 hits overall while Southern Illinois managed 11.

Valparaiso improved to 12-36 with the win, while Southern Illinois dropped to 22-30.

The Beacons took control early. In the top of the first, M. Kuska singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Southern Illinois pitcher Troy Shepard on a failed pickoff attempt. After two strikeouts, Kegerreis singled to center to score Kuska. Valparaiso led 1-0.

Southern Illinois answered in the bottom of the first against Valparaiso starter Connor Lockwood. Michael Mylott singled, Jacob McKenzie singled, and Kye Watson doubled down the right-field line to score Mylott. Tim Simay singled to score McKenzie, and Gabe Petrucelli added a sacrifice fly to bring home Watson. The Salukis took a 3-1 lead.

Lockwood settled in after that. The Valparaiso right-hander pitched all nine innings, allowing no hits after the first inning but four earned runs. He struck out three and walked none. The no-hit line from the second inning onward was a remarkable turnaround.

Valparaiso chipped away in the top of the third. Kuska walked, E. Riley singled, and Kegerreis singled again to load the bases. But Cal Schembra lined out to end the threat.

The Salukis extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Kristian Sprawling singled, Mylott singled, and Watson singled to drive home Sprawling, making it 4-1.

Valparaiso then took control in the top of the sixth. G. Bennett singled, J. Gauthier singled, and C. Sullivan singled to load the bases. Kuska singled to shortstop to drive in Bennett, cutting the deficit to 4-2. But Riley struck out and T. Cooper lined out to end the inning.

The game turned decisively in the top of the seventh. With Southern Illinois still leading 4-2, Valparaiso sent nine batters to the plate against Salukis relievers Ryan Halamicek and Gio De Graauw. Kegerreis led off with a single. Schembra singled. After a strikeout, Bennett walked to load the bases. Gauthier walked to force in Kegerreis, making it 4-3. Sullivan then singled through the right side, scoring Bennett and Schembra to give Valparaiso a 5-4 lead. De Graauw entered and allowed an RBI single to Riley that scored Gauthier. The Beacons led 6-4.

That proved the decisive rally. Lockwood retired the Salukis in order in the seventh and eighth, and Valparaiso added three more runs in the ninth. Kegerreis doubled home two, then scored on a double by Schembra.

Southern Illinois used five pitchers. Shepard started and went three innings, allowing four hits and no earned runs with two strikeouts. Blake Kimball followed with three innings, allowing seven hits and one earned run with three strikeouts. Halamicek faced four batters and allowed two runs without recording an out. De Graauw got one out but allowed two hits and a run. Alec Ammerman pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing four hits and two runs with no strikeouts.

C. Sullivan finished 2 for 5 with two RBIs. Schembra was 2 for 5 with an RBI. For Southern Illinois, Watson went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Simay was 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Myllott was 3 for 4.

The game was the first of a three-game series. Valparaiso traveled to Carbondale after losing the opener 6-4 on Thursday, May 14. The Beacons had lost four of their previous five games entering Friday, while Southern Illinois had won three of its previous four. The two teams meet again Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Valparaiso 2, Southern Illinois 6, and Interstat’s ELO system had projected Southern Illinois with a 77.30 percent probability to win.