Recap | Salukis Drop Games to North Texas, Georgia Tech at Snowman Tournament

Starkville, Miss. – Southern Illinois softball (1-7, 0-0) returned to Nusz Park at Mississippi State Friday morning for day two of the 2025 Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament. Today they faced North Texas (5-1, 0-0) and Georgia Tech (5-1, 0-0). After a close game one that resulted in a North Texas 4-3 win, game two turned into a slugfest as Georgia Tech came out on top, 12-8.

Game One: 4-3 L vs North Texas
Inside the Box Score

Anna Carder had the biggest hit of the game for Southern, hitting a two-run double in the top of the fifth. Carder totaled two hits in the game.
Amanda Knutson had SIU's other RBI in the game, and Charley Pursley, Emma Austin, and Maleah Blomenkamp all had hits for the Salukis in addition to Carder.
Emma Gipson came in and pitched three innings of hitless softball.

How it Happened
After a scoreless first inning, SIU grabbed the lead in the top of the second. With Austin on third after a walk, stolen base, and foul-out, Knutson grounded out to score Austin and take a 1-0 lead.

North Texas eventually got on the board in the bottom of the third. With one out, three straight runners reached for the Mean Green before a double cleared the bases and gave North Texas a 3-1 lead. After a second out was recorded, an error on SIU's part allowed another Mean Green run to score, setting the score at 4-1.

The Salukis grabbed two runs back in the top of the fifth. With Pursley and Blomenkamp on second and first respectively, Carder knocked a two-run double through the left side to score both runners and bring SIU back within one of North Texas, 4-3.

This is where the score stayed heading into the top of the seventh. With two outs, Blomenkamp drew a walk to put the tying run on, but a Jackie Lis ground-out ended any chance of a SIU comeback.

Game Two: 12-8 L vs Georgia Tech
Inside the Box Score

Lis had a perfect game at the plate, going 4-4. She also drove in four runs off of two home runs.
Carder and Emily Williams both had two-RBI games, with Williams' two coming thanks to a home run.
Jordyn Stuessy was solid in her second appearance as a Saluki, throwing 3.1 innings while allowing no earned runs and just three hits.

How it Happened
Georgia Tech jumped on SIU starter Kaytee Dahlstrom early. A walk and a double put two Yellowjackets in scoring position before another double drove both runners in, making it 2-0.

However, SIU hit back in the bottom of the first. With the corners full, Carder hit into a fielder's choice that scored one and left her at first. Then, Williams blasted a two-run home run to center field to give the Salukis a 3-2 lead.

The Yellowjackets came right back in the second. As one runner stood on third, a fielding error from Lis allowed Georgia Tech to score and tie the game at 3-3. The next batter doubled to give Georgia Tech the lead back, 4-3.

Georgia Tech's lead grew in the third. With runners in the corners, a dropped fly ball allowed another Yellowjacket to cross home plate. After a strikeout, a double put another Georgia Tech run on the scoreboard, setting the score at 6-3.

The Salukis were able to recuperate a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third. After Pursley reached on an error, Lis powered a ball over the center-field wall for a two-run homer and bringing Southern back within one, 6-5.

The one-run deficit did not last long. With two runners in scoring position, a fielding error by the Salukis let two more Georgia Tech runs score. A single scored yet another run, making it 9-5. Then, with the bags loaded, a wild pitch allowed another Yellowjacket to reach home. A walk loaded the bases again before a single plated a pair of runs. At the conclusion of the half-inning, the scoreboard read 12-5 in favor of the Yellowjackets.

Southern got one run back in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs on the board, Lis doubled to reach scoring position. Lis then made it all the way home on a Carder single, bringing the score to 12-6.

Down to their final two outs, SIU grabbed a final pair of runs when Lis hit her second home run of the day, which also scored Pursley. Unfortunately, this would be the final time Southern scored as the final scoreboard read 12-8 in favor of Georgia Tech.

Up Next
SIU's run at The Snowman Tournament ends tomorrow, Saturday, with a 9 a.m. rematch against North Texas.

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