TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Southern Illinois continued its strong offensive weekend and used another explosive late-game surge to defeat Indiana State, 13–3, in Monday's series finale at Price Field. 

The Salukis struck early for the third straight contest, jumping ahead on a two-run homer from Sydney Potter in the first inning. Indiana State threatened in the bottom half with three straight hits, but SIU starter Emily Delgado worked out of the jam to keep the Sycamores off the board. That early escape set the tone, as SIU steadily added to its lead while Indiana State struggled to capitalize on traffic throughout the first three innings. 

Southern Illinois extended its advantage in the fourth on a fielder's choice and then broke the game open in the sixth, stringing together six hits and taking advantage of an error to push across six runs. The inning featured a two-run single from Maleah Blomenkamp, an RBI double from Haley Wilkerson, and run-scoring swings from Amanda Knutson and Hayden Kurtz as the Salukis built a 9–0 cushion. 

Indiana State responded with its best offensive frame of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth. The Sycamores produced four straight hits and plated three runs on RBI singles from Claire Connelly, Mallory Chavez, and Ireland Riley, cutting the deficit to 9–3 and briefly shifting momentum. 

But SIU answered immediately in the seventh, loading the bases before Emily Williams delivered the decisive blow, a grand slam to center, to push the lead to 13–3 and seal the victory. 

Despite the final margin, Indiana State finished with 10 hits, including multi-hit efforts from Madison Poulson and Mallory Chavez, and continued to compete at the plate throughout the afternoon. The Sycamores generated baserunners in five different innings and saw contributions from up and down the lineup, including key sixth-inning roles from Bella Pusateri and Hannah Welch. 

How They Scored 

• SIU: Potter homered to right field, scoring Grann (2–0). 

• SIU: Blomenkamp reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Stewart (3–0). 

• SIU: Blomenkamp singled to shortstop, scoring Coburn and Stewart (5–0). 

• SIU: Wilkerson doubled to center field, scoring Blomenkamp (6–0). 

• SIU: Knutson singled and advanced to second on the throw, scoring Grann (7–0). 

• SIU: Kurtz singled and advanced to second on the throw, scoring Knutson and Potter (9–0). 

• ISU: Connelly singled to right center, scoring Goodrich (9–1). 

• ISU: Chavez singled to right center, scoring Burns (9–2). 

• ISU: Riley singled to second base, scoring Pusateri (9–3). 

• SIU: Williams homered to center field for a grand slam, scoring Grann, Pritchett, and Coburn (13–3). 

News and Notes

• Madison Poulson recorded 3 hits out of 4 AB.

• Mallory Chavez recorded 1 hit and added an RBI single. 

• Claire Connelly has recorded hits in the last six games.

• Ireland Riley delivered her second RBI of the series. 
   

Up Next 

Indiana State heads on the road this weekend, traveling to Normal, Illinois, to face the Illinois State Redbirds. 

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