Sycamores Drop Series Finale to Southern Illinois
Indiana State softball fell in the series finale on Sunday afternoon to Southern Illinois at Charlotte West Stadium.
The Sycamores (21-23, 8-12) were unable to come a five-run inning in the second from the Salukis (22-17-1, 11-9) who claim the series win with Sunday's victory.
Indiana State got on the board in the top of the first as Bella Peterson worked a one-out walk which brought up Amanda Guercio. The senior continued her hot streak at the plate as she sent a shot down the left field line that was just inside the foul pole for a two-run home run to put ISU up 2-0. It was Guercio's seventh home run of the year and her third in the last five games.
Southern Illinois cut into the Sycamore lead in the bottom half after a Sycamore error gave the Salukis a pair of base runners with no outs. A RBI groundout later in the inning brought in a run for SIU to make it a 2-1 game.
In the top of the second, Indiana State would get a pair of runners but were unable to score as the Salukis escaped unharmed. Kennedy Shade reached via a hit by pitch and Abi Chipps got an infield single to highlight the offense for ISU in the frame.
Indiana State nearly worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the inning with limited damage after SIU got a run off a RBI groundout to tie the game but the Salukis would take the lead, getting a two-out grand slam from Jenny Jansen to go up 6-2.
A pair of Sycamore errors in the game loomed large as five of the six Saluki runs were unearned.
Bella Peterson recorded her 19th double of the season in the top of the fifth which allowed Olivia Patton to score from first after she reached with a single. Peterson's RBI double cut into the Saluki lead, making it a 6-3 game and puther at second in the nation for doubles.
Cassi Newbanks sat down the Salukis 1-2-3 in the fifth to bring the Sycamores back to the plate where Annie Tokarek laced her ninth double of the year to left center. SIU got a pair of strikeouts to strand the Indiana State runner and keep the 6-3 lead in tact.
Newbanks and Griffin combined for scoreless sixth inning as Griffin came in and got two quick outs to bring ISU to the plate for their last chance in the seventh.
SIU sat down the Sycamores in order in the seventh to claim the 6-3 victory and win the series.
Lexi Benko started for ISU and went two innings, allowing one earned run on three hits. She falls to 10-13 on the season with the loss. Cassi Newbanks entered in relief to begin the third and worked three and a third scoreless innings before being replaced by Hailey Griffin in the bottom of the sixth. Griffin got two two outs in the sixth to complete her outing.
Around the Horn
-Bella Peterson moves to second in the NCAA with 19 doubles this season.
-Amanda Guercio has now hit three home runs in the last five games.
-Hailey Griffin has not allowed a run in six straight appearances.
Original source can be found here.
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