Southern Illinois University
26-16, 0
Northern Iowa
25-15, 0
Recap | Southern Illinois Splits Saturday Doubleheader at UNI; Win Game One, 12-6, in Extras
04/19/2025 | 8:34:00 | Softball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Southern Illinois University softball team (26-17, 17-3) split its Saturday doubleheader against Northern Iowa, winning the first game, 12-6, in eight innings before falling, 8-6, in the second game.
Game One: 12-6 (8) win vs. Northern Iowa
Inside the Box Score
- The Salukis scored nine of their 12 runs in the top of the eighth inning after surrendering two runs to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Southern tallied 13 hits and had one error in the win, while UNI had 10 hits with no errors.
- McKenzie Newcomb (16-5) received the win after allowing five hits, five earned runs, no walks, with four strikeouts across 5.0 innings pitched. Kiana McDowell started the game for SIU and gave up five hits, one earned run, no walks, with one strikeout in 3.0 innings pitched.
- It was a big day for the Saluki offense as five players posted multiple hits. Emily Williams led the way, going 2-for-2 with a home run, four RBI, two runs, and three walks. Addi Baker also went deep and finished the game with a 2-for-5 line with three RBI and two runs. Emma Austin, Jackie Lis, and Amanda Knutson all had two hits each in the win.
How it Happened
Southern Illinois opened up the game with a three-run first inning after Emily Williams homered to right center to drive in Emma Austin and Anna Carder. This was Williams' third home run of the series and 15th of the season, the most in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The lone run the Panthers scored on SIU's starter Kiana McDowell came in the bottom of the first off of a solo home run. After one, Southern led, 3-1.
No other runs would be scored until the seventh inning, as McDowell stranded one Panther in the second and fired a 1-2-3 third inning to finish off her outing in game one.
Northern Iowa was held in-check by McKenzie Newcomb in the senior's first three innings out of the bullpen. Newcomb retired nine straight batters in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, however, the Panthers led-off the inning with a solo home run to make it a one-run game. One batter later, UNI tied the game with another solo shot to make it 3-3.
Southern's offense got back-on-track in the eighth, scoring nine runs to take a 12-3 lead. The rally started with a two-run single by Sage Grann which brought home Charley Pursley and Addi Baker. Erin Lee then scored on an RBI single by Amanda Knutson.
Jackie Lis came through with a two-run single of her own a couple of batters later, giving SIU an 8-3 lead. Williams continued her strong performance after this with an RBI single, which was followed up by a three-run home run by Baker to put the Salukis ahead, 12-3.
Despite UNI scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth, Southern held on for the 12-6 win.
Game Two: 8-6 loss vs. Northern Iowa
Inside the Box Score
- SIU scored six runs on seven hits with no errors in the loss.
- Kiana McDowell took the loss for the Salukis after going six innings in game two of the doubleheader.
- Addi Baker had another strong performance at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a grand slam. Amanda Knutson also had a two-hit day and had two RBI and one run scored.
How it Happened
After a lead-off walk in the bottom of the first, Northern Iowa homered to right field to take an early, 2-0 lead.
UNI doubled its advantage with two more home runs in the third to go up, 4-0.
Southern's first run in the second game of the doubleheader came in the top of the fourth. With two runners on, Addi Baker singled to center to score Jackie Lis and cut the deficit to 4-1.Â
An RBI double by Amanda Knutson in the following inning made it a 4-2 game.
In the bottom of the fifth, Northern Iowa scored four runs to take an 8-2 lead. The score remained this way until the top of the seventh, where Baker hit a grand slam to score Lis, Knutson, and Anna Carder. The late surge wasn't enough for Southern, however, as it fell, 8-6.
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Up Next
The Salukis will return home on Wednesday to host UT Martin at 4 p.m. This will start the final homestand of the season for Southern Illinois, as it will then host Murray State next weekend with game one scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. against the Racers.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Softball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoftball and on Instagram at @SIU_Softball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Newcomb, McKenzie (16-5)
L: Carly Goodwin (4-2)
Batting:
2B: Knutson, Amanda 1
HR: Williams, Emily 1 ; Baker, Addi 1
RBI: Lis, Jackie 2 ; Williams, Emily 4 ; Baker, Addi 3 ; Grann, Sage 2 ; Knutson, Amanda 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Austin, Emma 1 ; Lis, Jackie 1 ; Carder, Anna 2 ; Williams, Emily 2 ; Pursley, Charleston 1 ; Baker, Addi 2 ; Lee, Erin 1 ; Grann, Sage 1 ; Knutson, Amanda 1
Batting:
2B: Addison McElrath 1
HR: Kylee Sanders 1 ; Kate Lappe 2 ; Katelyn Callahan 1
RBI: Kylee Sanders 1 ; Drew Hinrichs 1 ; Kate Lappe 3 ; Katelyn Callahan 1
SH: Katelyn Callahan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kylee Sanders 1 ; Katy Olive 1 ; Drew Hinrichs 1 ; Kate Lappe 2 ; Katelyn Callahan 1
