CARBONDALE, Ill. – Back-to-back two-run innings – capped off by an RBI double then a steal of home by freshman Amanda Guercio – completed the come-from-behind win for the Sycamores Saturday as Indiana State claimed a series win with a 5-3 victory at Southern Illinois in the rubber game of a Missouri Valley Conference series.
 
With the win, Indiana State extended its streak of not having lost a season series to the Salukis since 2011.
 
For Guercio, the stolen base capped off a career day as she was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored while almost turning a double play on a diving catch and throw. For Indiana State (20-19, 7-7), it capped off a dramatic and critical series win.
 
Southern Illinois (22-17, 5-8) led throughout most of the game despite being outhit until the Sycamores tied it in the sixth inning with a Becky Malchow groundout followed two batters later by an RBI double to right center by Bailey Martin. Martin's double scored Leslie Sims after she reached on a single to short as part of her 3-for-4 day with a run scored and a stolen base, her 17^th of the season.
 
That tied the game for the Trees and set up Guercio's heroics in the seventh inning.
 
Abbey Kruzel (4-5) was credited with the win after allowing only two hits in 3 2/3 innings in the circle before Arielle Blankenship (3) pitched the final 1/3 inning to claim the save. Neither pitcher allowed a run or a walk. Kruzel was impressive in her relief performance of Kylie Stober, retiring the first nine batters she faced.
 
Savanna Dover (4-11) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs – including Indiana State's go-ahead run – on two hits in one inning in the circle.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Amanda Guercio easily claims this honor as she was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Her second RBI of the game ended up being the winning run for the Sycamores while her lone run scored came as she stole home, marking the first stolen base of her career.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
The four doubles in the game marked a season high for Indiana State. Additionally, the four extra-base hits in the game were the most for the Sycamores since recording four extra-base hits on March 17 against Valparaiso.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Abbey Kruzel, Indiana State (4-5)
• Loss: Savanna Dover, Southern Illinois (4-11)
• Save: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (3)

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 20-19 (7-7 MVC)
• Southern Illinois: 22-17 (5-8 MVC)

NOTABLES

• With the win, Indiana State has now not lost a series to Southern Illinois since 2011
• Indiana State is now 74-25 all-time against Southern Illinois
• Leslie Sims swiped her 17^th stolen base of the season in the game. She is currently ninth in the school's single season charts for stolen bases.
• Sims' stolen base gives her 37 for her career, tying her for sixth all-time at Indiana State matching the 37 stolen bases recorded by Kassie Brown (2014-17).
• Bailey Martin reached base in the first inning for the fourth consecutive game

For the latest information on the Sycamore Softball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.