MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Southern Illinois Salukis erupted for nine runs in the first two innings and rode a dominant combined pitching performance to a 9-1 victory over the Omaha Mavericks in a nonconference baseball game Friday evening.

Playing at a neutral site, the Salukis (5-7) sent 10 batters to the plate in a four-run first inning against Omaha starter M. Meyer and never looked back. Shortstop Tim Simay provided the early knockout blow, lacing a two-run double to left center to score Kye Watson and Henry Kufa.

Southern Illinois broke the game open with a five-run second inning, chasing Meyer after just 1 1/3 innings. Jaden Flores drove in a run with a double, and Kufa followed with a two-run single to left. Simay later added his second two-run double of the game in the sixth inning, finishing 2-for-5 with four RBIs. Kufa also drove in two runs as part of the Salukis’ 14-hit attack.

The most important part of the game was the immediate and overwhelming offensive onslaught by Southern Illinois, which built an insurmountable 9-0 lead by the middle of the second inning. This early cushion allowed the Salukis’ pitching staff to operate with complete command.

The story of the afternoon, however, was Southern Illinois pitching. Starter Andrew Evans was brilliant, earning top star honors by tossing five no-hit innings. He walked one, struck out three and faced just one batter over the minimum. Evans has now allowed two earned runs over 11 innings in his last two starts.

Relievers Blake Kimball and Dylan Petrey preserved the combined shutout bid into the sixth. Petrey allowed Omaha’s lone run in that frame on an RBI single by H. Lewis that scored T. Bishop, who had been hit by a pitch. Kimball then retired all nine batters he faced over the final three innings, striking out one.

Omaha (4-8) managed eight hits but went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded six. Jackson Trout led the Mavericks, going 2-for-4 with a double. Omaha’s bullpen provided a bright spot, as Carter Boos and Michael Sall combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits and striking out five.

The Salukis will continue their weekend in Minneapolis against UNLV on Saturday. Omaha will face Northwestern, also in Minneapolis, on Saturday.