TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Amanda Guercio hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie but Southern Illinois scored five unanswered runs to claim the series opener over Indiana State Friday afternoon at Price Field.
 
Neither team could push a run across until Guercio's shot to left center in the bottom of the fourth, putting Indiana State (14-25, 2-12 Missouri Valley) in the lead. The Sycamores held that lead until the sixth when a two-run home run by Jordan Spicer flipped the lead to Southern Illinois (24-10, 9-4). The Salukis would add three more runs in the seventh off a two-run double by Katelyn Massa before Megan Brown drove in a run with a hard-hit single through the left side.
 
Gabbi Schnaiter (7-11) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings, walking three and striking out five. Arielle Blankenship was responsible for three runs on four hits after pitching the seventh inning.
 
Brianna Jones (16-6) claimed the win after allowing the one run off seven hits in a complete game performance while striking out four and not issuing a walk.
 
Maddy Vermejan and Susie Baranski were both 2-for-2 for SIU while Massa's two RBI led all players.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Amanda Guercio claimed this accolade with her big swing in the fourth inning. Guercio smashed a 1-2 pitch well over the fence in left center on a windy day in the Wabash Valley, scoring Indiana State's lone run of the game.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
With Amanda Guercio's home run, the Sycamores have now recorded extra-base hits in four consecutive games.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Brianna Jones, Southern Illinois (16-6)
• Loss: Gabbi Schnaiter, Indiana State (7-11)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 14-25 (2-12 MVC)
• Southern Illinois: 24-10 (9-4 MVC)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State now trails the all-time series against Southern Illinois, 71-26. This marks the first time since 2011 that the Sycamores have not won the series opener.
• Amanda Guercio hit her fourth home run of the season with a solo shot in the fourth inning. It marked her sixth career home run.
• The Sycamores have hit 17 home runs to date, the ninth-most in a single season in school history.
• Gabbi Schnaiter's five strikeouts are the most she has recorded in a game over her last five appearances.

 
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