Baseball Recap: Make It Three in a Row for Salem

Salem had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 11.5 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Friday. They walked away with a 7-4 win over the Centralia Orphans. The game was the first time the Wildcats have beaten the Orphans on their field since May 23, 2016.

Jalen Inlow

Runs

03/25/25 @ Benton	3
03/18/25 @ Mt. Vernon	3
03/28/25 @ Centralia	2
03/21/25 vs Murphysboro	2
03/22/25 vs Goreville	1

Noah Nix and Jalen Inlow made a big impact while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Nix struck out six batters over two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Inlow struck out six batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits (and only one walk). Nix has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. At bat, Nix went 2-for-4 with one home run, two RBI, and one double, while Inlow scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3. Inlow has become a key player for Salem: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two runs, but 1-2 otherwise.

They weren't the only ones making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Rhett Detering, who scored a run while going 1-for-2. Ryan Detering also deserves some recognition as he scored his first run of the season.

Salem's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 5-2. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.0 runs over those games. As for Centralia, they now have a losing record of 3-4.

Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Salem will face off against St. Anthony at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. As for Centralia, they will square off against Carbondale at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.