Baseball picked up its first win of the season in a competitive three-game series this weekend against Southern Illinois in Marion.

The Huskies (1-8-1) shut out the Salukis (7-3), 1-0, Friday for their first win of the season.

They scored the lone run of the game in the top of the second inning. Outfielder Landon Tenhagen led the inning off with a walk and advanced to second base on a groundout by outfielder Brandon Mallder. Shortstop Brian Sisler came to the plate and singled to right field, driving in Tenhagen, who scored on a bang-bang play at the plate.

“Brian’s RBI was big for us,” said head coach Ed Mathey in a news release. “[Assistant] coach [Tom] Carcione did a heck of a job to send Landon home on the play. That’s an instinct call to send the runner home, and it worked out on a bang-bang play.”

Pitcher Eli Anderson shut the Salukis down in his 7.1 innings, striking out eight batters while giving up five hits and two walks. The bullpen came in and slammed the door as Anthony Andres pitched 0.2 innings while surrendering one walk.

Freshman Andrew Frankenreider came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and set the Salukis down in order to record his first save, the shutout and the Huskies’ first win of the season.

“It was a very good, clean college baseball game today,” Mathey said in a news release. “Runs were at a premium, as was third base. I thought both defenses were solid today… . As long as we continue to play clean defensively and continue to be opportunistic like we were today, it’s going to help us win some ball games down the road.”

In the doubleheader Saturday, the Huskies got strong pitching performances in each game but were unable to get it done at the plate.

The Huskies lost the first game, 3-1. Pitcher Alex Klonowski drove in the Huskies’ only run of the game in the top of the first inning. Third baseman Tommy Hook led the game off with a single, and Klonowski drove him in two batters later.

Klonowksi pitched six innings, giving up one earned run on three hits and three walks. He also struck out four batters. Once Klonowksi left, the Salukis jumped on pitcher TJ Schrader for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Salukis took the final game of the series, 2-1. Pitcher Jordan Ruckman threw six innings, giving up two earned runs on eight hits and two walks. The Salukis scored both of their runs in the fourth inning on three hits.

The Huskies mounted a comeback in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and Carl Russell on third base and Justin Fletcher on second base, Klonowski reached on an error, allowing Russell to score from third. The next batter, outfielder Micah McCulloch, ended the inning on a fielder’s choice, and the Salukis held on to win the game.

“Our starting pitchers really gave us a chance to win both games today,” Mathey said in a news release. “… Our defense did a nice job to limit Southern Illinois to five runs today. It’s just unfortunate to do that and not win the weekend. We have to be more opportunistic in our chances and sustain ourselves offensively to grind out wins.”