The Illinois State baseball team won three-of-four games to open Missouri Valley Conference play at Southern Illinois after winning the series finale, 14-11, on Sunday at Itchy Jones Stadium.

  ISU, which led by nine runs on two occasions, held off SIU as the Salukis scored four runs in the bottom of the 9th. 

Fourth-year senior Jack Butler was 3-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored to lead Illinois State (11-15 overall, 3-1 MVC). Fourth-year junior Tyson Hays was 3-for-5 with two RBI, a run scored, and two stolen bases. 

JT Weber had two home runs and eight RBIs (the most by an opposing player since 2008) for Southern Illinois (20-6 overall, 4-4 MVC).