Salukis Win in Extras to Close Out Doubleheader at Saluki Invitational

Carbondale, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Salukis started off the 2023 Saluki Invitational with a pair of wins on Saturday evening. The Salukis have now won seven straight as they move to 12-2 on the season.

Southern got going in game one with a matchup against former Valley foe Loyola and took down the Ramblers 6-2. The Dawgs got on the board first with a RBI-single from Elizabeth Warwick in the third inning and continued to put across three more runs on RBIs from Anna Carder and Jenna Christeson before the inning was over.

Loyola inched its way back with runs in the fourth and sixth but the Salukis were able to get both back. In the bottom half of the sixth, Emma Austin sparked the Salukis offense with a standup triple. Austin's triple was followed up by a pair of RBI-doubles from Elizabeth Warwick and Jackie Lis. Warwick was nearly impossible to get out all day as she went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs, and six walks in the doubleheader.

Elliott Stinson earned the win in the circle for the Dawgs going five innings while giving up a pair of runs, four hits, and five strikeouts. Hannah Hockerman relieved Stinson and shut down the Ramblers in the final two innings while giving up just one hit to close out the 6-2 win.

The Salukis found themselves in a hole after the top half of the first inning in game number two of the day against UT-Martin. The Skyhawks were able to get several runners on early which led to a grand slam. Down 5-0 in the bottom of the first, Warwick and Lis both got on followed by a towering blast down the left line from Rylie Hamilton. Hamilton's fourth home run of the season brought the Dawgs within a pair of runs and right back into the game.

"We owed the pitchers a game on offense," said head coach Jen Sewell following the win. "They bailed us out last week and we needed to help them out today. Yes - we gave up runs early but they were able to put some zeros up while the offense climbed back in."

After an eight-run first inning, neither side was able to get anything going until the Salukis put across their fourth run in the bottom of the sixth. Bailey Caylor came to the plate to pinch hit and led off the inning with a single. Caylor was able to advance to third following a sac bunt and wild pitch and was driven home by Warwick on a groundout to the right side to make it a 4-5 game.

The Dawgs held UT-Martin scoreless again in the seventh and led off the bottom half of the inning with a double from Rylie Hamilton. Hamilton would score the tying run on an infield RBI-single from Addi Baker to make it a 5-5 game.

"I love what Warwick, Hamilton and Lis continue to do at the plate," explained coach Sewell. "We did some things to try to lose that game but we sure did a lot more things to win. We have found ways to win and when you have a team like that - we are never out of a game."

Freshman Jackie Lis played hero for the Salukis in extras as the Ramblers went back up 6-5 in the top half of the eighth. With two runners in scoring position, Lis roped a line drive to right field and brought home the winning two runs to walk the game off 7-6 in favor of SIU.

"I'm so happy with the chemistry we have in the dugout and in our locker room. And that's what keeps us in games. Those players know someone is going to come up with it," said Sewell following the extra inning win.

Up next for the Salukis is a pair of games against the Butler Bulldogs. The first game will be at 3 PM on Sunday and the following on Monday afternoon 2 PM at Charlotte West Stadium.

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