Recap | Softball Goes 2-0 on Senior Day with 7-1 and 10-1 (5) Wins over Murray State

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University softball team (29-17, 19-3) was dominant in its Senior Day doubleheader on Saturday, defeating Murray State, 7-1, in game one, and, 10-1 (5), in game two.

After the conclusion of the second game, the Salukis held a ceremony to honor their five seniors: Chloe Scroggins, Emma Austin, Alexis Rudd, Addi Baker, and McKenzie Newcomb.

"They [seniors] just continue to buy-in," head coach Jen Sewell said. "It's bigger than us. It's bigger than any one coach or player, and they've continued to make it that way. You can tell they've passed it down to all of those young faces out there that are staring at them."

Game One: 7-1 win vs. Murray State

Inside the Box Score

In game one, SIU out-hit Murray State, 10-7, en route to scoring seven runs.
McKenzie Newcomb (17-5) was credited with the win after allowing four hits, one run (zero earned), one walk, with four strikeouts in five innings pitched. Emma Gipson started the game and allowed three hits, no walks, with two strikeouts across two scoreless innings.
Jackie Lis led the way offensively with a 3-for-3 day that included three RBI, one walk, and one run scored. Other notables include Anna Carder who was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and Mikaela Coburn who went 1-for-3 with two RBI.

How it Happened

Freshman Emma Gipson started her day off with a pair of strikeouts in the top of the first inning. Gipson stranded one runner on base, who reached via an error.

Jackie Lis' big day began in the bottom of the first, as the shortstop singled to drive home Anna Carder and give Southern Illinois a 1-0 lead.

After allowing two one-out singles, Gipson got the following two batters to foul out and fly out to finish off her outing.

On Senior Day, senior first baseman Addi Baker drove in the Salukis' second run of the game with an RBI single, scoring Sarah Cook.

Murray State's lone run of game one came in the top of the fourth via a two-out single.

In the bottom of the fifth, Southern scored three runs, starting with another Lis single and Carder run. Mikaela Coburn then singled with two outs to bring home both Lis and Emily Williams, giving the Salukis a 5-1 advantage.

Sage Grann and Emma Austin both crossed home plate in the sixth to make it 7-1.

McKenzie Newcomb finished off the Racers with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to secure the 7-1 victory for SIU.

"I thought the pitchers did a great job of just keeping everything kind of stuffed down," Sewell said. "Another great day offensively, we didn't really hurt ourselves."

Game Two: 10-1 (5) win vs. Murray State

Inside the Box Score

SIU cruised to a run-rule victory in game two, scoring 10 runs on 10 hits with no errors.
Kaytee Dahlstrom (8-2) earned the win and complete game after allowing five hits, one run, no walks, with one strikeout in five innings pitched.
Jackie Lis (10) and Mikaela Coburn (2) both went deep in game two. Coburn tallied three RBI while Lis, Sage Grann, and senior Alexis Rudd all had two RBI each.

How it Happened

Emma Austin stole her second base of the day in the bottom of the first inning. The senior now has 62 on her Saluki career and is two stolen bases away from breaking the all-time career record for SIU, which currently stands at 63 (Marta Viefhaus [1998-01], Jami Koss [1993-96]).

Austin came around and scored Southern Illinois' first run of game two off of a Jackie Lis double, making it 1-0.

Freshman Kaytee Dahlstrom fired a 1-2-3 third inning, leading to the starter being unscathed through three frames.

Lis continued her big day with a lead-off home run to left field in the bottom of the third. This was the junior's 10th home run of the season and first since March 22 at Valparaiso.

Mikaela Coburn followed this up with a two-run shot a few batters later, the right fielder's second-career home run. After three, SIU led, 4-0.

The Racers got on the board in the following inning off of a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1.

Southern Illinois answered this with a six-run fourth inning. Anna Carder doubled to score Amanda Knutson to get the big inning started for SIU.

Then, senior Alexis Rudd hit a two-run single, scoring Lis and fellow senior Chloe Scroggins. Coburn and Sage Grann drove in the following three runs for SIU, leading to the Salukis taking a commanding 10-1 lead.

Dahlstrom didn't allow a batter to reach base in the top of the fifth to conclude the strong performance for the Salukis.

"I like that we just controlled our emotions on a very emotional day," Sewell said. "I wanted to make sure that everybody got a shot and I think we're still trying to get people at bats, and that's been the best part about our lineup. We can use it a lot of different ways."

Up Next
The Salukis, now 29-17 and 19-3 in conference play, will go for the sweep tomorrow at 12 p.m. against Murray State for the 'Bark in the Park' game with St. Francis CARE. If Southern Illinois wins and Belmont loses on Sunday, SIU will clinch at least a share of the MVC Regular Season title. The Bruins will play at Missouri State at 12 p.m.

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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