DeLand, Fla. - Southern Illinois scored four runs in the first two innings and silenced the Stetson bats in a 6-1 victory at Melching Field at Conrad Park Saturday night.  Members of Stetson's 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference championship team received their rings prior to the game. 

The Salukis wasted little time offensively.  Scott Elmendorf's double put SIU on the board two batters into the game and Mark Kelly added a two-run double later in the inning for a 3-0 lead. 

They picked up another run in the second for an early 4-0 advantage.

That was all sophomore starter Cody Adams needed, as he allowed just one unearned run through 6 2/3 innings.  The right-hander fanned five and walked only one, while allowing four hits. 

Stetson's bullpen kept them in game.  Jake Hitchcock, one day after tossing two scoreless innings, turned in a 5-inning effort.  He surrendered just three hits and two runs, while striking out three.  Freshman Justin Dechert added 2 1/3 scoreless frames in his Stetson debut.  The Boynton Beach, Fla. product struck out three, walked one and allowed just one hit. 

After Southern Illinois stuck two more runs on the board in the top of the seventh, the Hatters broke through to avoid a shutout.  Josh Clendenin was hit by a pitch for the fourth time in the series to led off the bottom of the inning.  He went to second on a passed ball and to third on a ground out before scoring on Jeremy Cruz's ground ball to second base. 

Clendenin reached base three times on another hit by pitch and a walk.  Braedyn Pruitt went 2-for-2 and was also hit by two pitches to tie the Hatters all-time record in that category. 

The rubber match of the series is Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 pm first pitch at Melching Field at Conrad Park.  Chris Ingoglia will start for Stetson against Shawn Joy.