Southern Illinois University
Missouri State
Recap | Softball Opens Up Midweek Road Trip with 6-3 Win at Missouri State on Tuesday
04/08/2025 | 8:07:00 | Softball
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Southern Illinois University softball team (21-15, 13-1) won its fourth consecutive game on Tuesday at Missouri State, defeating the Lady Bears, 6-3.
Inside the Box Score
- Southern scored six runs on 10 hits with one error, while Missouri State had three runs on six hits and one error in the loss.
- McKenzie Newcomb (13-5) got the win after allowing four hits, three runs (zero earned), one walk, with seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched.Â
- Anna Carder led the way offensively for the Salukis, going 3-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Mikaela Coburn also had a multi-hit day for SIU, going 2-for-4 in the win.
- Amanda Knutson hit her fourth home run of the season on Tuesday; a solo shot in the top of the fourth inning.
How it Happened
With two outs in the top of the first, the Salukis plated two runs to take an early, 2-0 lead. After a Carder single and Erin Lee walk, Emily Williams came through with an RBI single to left for the game's first run.
One batter later, Addi Baker doubled to center to bring home Lee and put the Salukis ahead by two.
Freshman Emma Gipson made her 17th start of the season on Tuesday and got off to a strong start with a 1-2-3 bottom of the first.
In the second inning, Gipson worked around a two-out double by Missouri State to keep the score at 2-0 in favor of SIU.
Newcomb relieved the freshman starter with two outs in the bottom of the third, seeing Gipson finish with a line of two hits, no runs, and no walks in 2.2 innings pitched. The senior struck out the first batter she faced to end the inning.
Southern's offense got back on the board in the fourth courtesy of a Knutson solo home run to make it 3-0. This was Knutson's fourth home run of the season and first since March 28 at Belmont.
Lee added another run for the Salukis in the fifth via a sacrifice fly to score Emma Austin from third. In the following inning, Southern tallied two more insurance runs after a Jackie Lis walk and Carder single.
Newcomb kept the Lady Bears off of the scoreboard in the sixth after posting two strikeouts in the inning, leading to the Salukis taking a 6-0 lead into the seventh.
Missouri State attempted a late-rally in the final inning as it scored three runs, but it was not enough as Southern Illinois held on for the 6-3 win.
Up Next
Southern will next play at the University of Missouri on Wednesday, April 9, at 6 p.m., in an SEC clash with the Tigers. The Salukis will then return home to continue Valley play this weekend against Bradley, with game one scheduled for Friday at 5 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.
