TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- Indiana State Softball fell to Southern Illinois in five innings on Friday evening, with a score of 8-0. 

The Salukis took game one of the three-game MVC series over the Sycamores, where Indiana State picked up three hits by Shade, Chipps, and Cornwell against Saluki's Eberle. Maddia Groff (24-3) took the win in the circle for the Saluki's where she allowed no hits and no runs scored. 

Southern Illinois took the early lead 1-0 in the first inning, when they recorded back to back doubles by Warwick and Lis to take the lead over the Sycamores. 

Solo home runs by Lis and Johnson in innings three and four advanced the Salukis lead to 3-0. Southern Illinois drove in five more runs in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI single, two sacrifice flies, and two runs walked in, to build the SIU lead to 8-0 over the Sycamores.

The Sycamores were put in scoring position in the fourth inning when Abi Chipps and Kennedy Shade each recorded hits, but were left stranded. Chipps continues to rack up hits for Indiana State as she went into today's game second overall in the MVC in hits, with 50. Kenzie Cornwell also picked up a hit for Indiana State, which records her fourth double of the 2024 season. 

Hailey Griffin (6-6) took the loss in the circle for the Sycamores, and in 3.0 innings of work, Griffin allowed seven hits, five runs scored, while striking out three. Cassi Newbanks took over in the circle for the Sycamores in the fourth inning, allowing two hits and two runs scored in the 8-0 loss against SIU. Megan Asher closed out game one against Southern Illinois where she faced three batters and struck out two. 

Up Next:
Indiana State will host game two of the three-game series, tomorrow at 2 p.m ET!

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