CARBONDALE, Ill. – Indiana State softball fell in both games of a doubleheader on Sunday against Southern Illinois at Charlotte West Stadium to close out a three-game series.
 
The Sycamores (17-17, 6-3) dropped game one 1-0 and fell 2-0 in game two of the day to Southern Illinois (27-5, 9-2) who pick up a series sweep and move towards the top of the MVC standings.
 
Game One
The second game of the series was another pitcher's duel, remaining scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when SIU got a two-out RBI single to left field to take a 1-0 lead after six frames.
 
Lauren Sackett went the distance for ISU, allowing just the one run while striking out seven Saluki hitters. She allowed five hits with Indiana State getting held to two, singles from Danielle and Isabella Henning. For SIU, Madi Eberle recorded her second-straight complete game, shutting out the Sycamores and walking just one batter.
 
Indiana State loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with just one out but Eberle was able to get a pair of pop ups to get out of the jam. The Sycamores went down in order in the seventh, giving SIU the 1-0 win and the series victory.
 
Sackett dropped to 3-5 on the year with the loss in game one.
 
Game Two
A repeat of the first two games, hits came at a premium in the series finale.
 
The Sycamores got a pair of baserunners in the top of the first via a walk and a hit by pitch but could not convert it into any runs.
 
In the top of the third with two away, Isabella Henning gave one a ride all the way to the wall in right field but the Salukis were able to track it down to end the inning.
 
SIU would break the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, plating two runs with a two-out, two-run double off the wall in right field to go up 2-0. Sycamore starter Lexi Benko had allowed just two hits until the double from Emma Carder.
 
Annie Tokarek singled to left field to begin the fourth inning, giving ISU their first hit of the contest. Neither team got on the board in the fourth as Lexi Benko worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half, picking up her second strikeout.
 
Benko would get replaced by Cassi Newbanks after 4.2 innings, finishing with a pair of strikeouts while allowing two runs on four hits.
 
After Tokarek's second single of the game in the top of the sixth, Kennedy Shade drove a pitch deep to left center but would be robbed of a likely home run by the SIU left fielder to retire the side and keep the Sycamores off of the scoreboard.
 
Cassi Newbanks threw a scoreless bottom of the sixth, bringing the Sycamores up to the plate in the seventh for a chance to extend the game.
 
Saluki reliever Elliott Stinson set Indiana State down in order, giving SIU a 2-0 win and clinching a series sweep.
 
Lexi Benko took the loss for ISU, falling to 8-5 on the season.
 
Up Next
Indiana State will host Evansville on Tuesday, April 4 for an MVC contest beginning at 4 p.m. ET at Price Field.
 
For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.