EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE and Bradley played into the ninth inning Tuesday, before settling for a 3-3 tie at Roy E. Lee Field. The game was initially delayed before the top of the ninth and finally called due to heavy fog.
It is the first tie for SIUE baseball since March 2006 when they tied at Northern Kentucky.
Tuesday's first pitch came about 15 minutes late due to rain in the afternoon, before bright sunshine overtook the field in the middle innings.
The Cougars moved to 16-24-1. Bradley is 10-27-1.
"This is something I have never experienced," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "It started showing up in the fifth inning. Slowly, and then spread."
Bradley scored twice in the third on a two-run double by Beau Durbin. Durbin doubled in another run in the seventh for a 3-0 lead.
SIUE got a leadoff hit from Lucas Spence and then did not have another hit until the sixth inning against Bradley starter Noah Edders and Reliever Jake Stellano.
In the seventh, the Cougars bats' came to life. Ryan Niedzwiedz led off the inning with a home run to right. Chase Bloomer doubled with one out and a walk to Sean Kang followed. Daniel Gierer dropped an RBI single down the left field line and Drew Mize lined a hit to center to tie the game with two outs.
"We got off to a really slow start offensively," Lyons said. "Our at-bats started to get a little more focused and we were able to tie the score in the seventh.
Jacob Kampf started for SIUE and gave up two runs in 2.2 innings. Joseph Martin, Matthew Gist and Kyle Athmer combined for 3.1 scoreless innings.
"Joe Martin did a nice job, Matty Gist came in and picked a runner off and got a big out. It was good to see Kyle Athmer back out there," Lyons said.
Garrett Helsel allowed a run but struck out three. Spence tossed the final 1.2 innings while striking out three.
"Garrett Helsel is showing some good stuff and it was nice to see what we got out of Lucas Spence," Lyons continued. "There are some positive takeaways from what we got on the mound tonight."
SIUE stays at home to welcome Little Rock for a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series beginning Friday. Friday's game time has been adjusted to 3 p.m.
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