Blomenkamp Hits Walk-Off in 10 Inning Thriller vs. UTSA as Softball Splits Doubleheader on Thursday

Thursday, February 12

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

10 AM

Southern Illinois University

6-2

Long Beach State

4-2

Long Beach St.

Southern Ill.

Blomenkamp Hits Walk-Off in 10 Inning Thriller vs. UTSA as Softball Splits Doubleheader on Thursday

02/12/2026 | 7:20:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Dominic Hoscher, SIUSalukis.com

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico - On day two of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, the Southern Illinois University softball team (7-2) won one of two games, falling to Long Beach State, 4-2, before defeating UTSA, 10-9, in 10 innings.

"We've played a lot of softball in the last week and for us to fight back after game one not going our way is a big testament to this team's guts," head coach Jen Sewell said. "We gave that crowd their money's worth."

In game two, the Salukis erased a 6-0 deficit they faced in the 5th inning to come back and win, 10-9. After the pitching staff held the Roadrunners scoreless in the ninth and 10th innings, Maleah Blomenkamp hit a walk-off single to score Charleston Pursley in the bottom of the 10th.

"We learned so much about ourselves today," Sewell said. "Both games will help us in the long run of the season."

In the top of the ninth, freshman Hailey Lucas faced a bases-loaded jam with no outs. Despite the traffic, Lucas escaped unscathed, keeping the score at 9-9. Fellow freshman Brooklynn Danielson also worked around trouble in the 10th, leading to the walk-off in the bottom half of the inning.

"That pitching staff was gutsy today on a very hot, long afternoon," Sewell said. "We played hard, but I could tell the missed plays were just mental. But offensively, we went punch-for-punch."

Game One: 4-2 loss vs. Long Beach State
In game one of the doubleheader, Southern Illinois fell, 4-2, to Long Beach State. The Salukis scored two runs on six hits with two errors in the loss.

Long Beach State got the scoring started in the second inning before SIU tallied two in the bottom of the third. Southern's first run came on the basepaths as Mikaela Coburn stole second, allowing Sydney Potter to come across home plate. Coburn then scored on an RBI single by Sage Grann to give the Salukis a 2-1 lead.

The Beach tied it in the fifth on a solo home run to make it 2-2. Two innings later, Long Beach State took the lead, scoring two in the top of the seventh, leading to the 4-2 win.

Kiana McDowell got the start and allowed one run on five hits and one walk with one strikeout in 2.0 innings pitched. Lucas came in during the third inning and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and no walks with eight strikeouts.

Offensively, Potter and Emily Williams led the way with two hits each. The junior catcher also hit her first triple of the season in the loss.

Game Two: 10-9 (10) win vs. UTSA
After falling to UTSA the day before, Southern won the rematch, 10-9, despite trailing by a score of 6-0 entering the bottom of the fifth.

The Salukis cut into the deficit with two runs in the inning, both coming off the bat of Williams who hit a two-run single through the right side to score Pursley and Jordan Stewart.

One inning later, Southern Illinois exploded for six runs in the sixth to take an 8-6 lead. Coburn drove in Grann for SIU's first run of the inning before Amanda Knutson scored on a wild pitch. A throwing error by the Roadrunners allowed Erin Lee to score next.

Another wild pitch opened the door for Coburn to come around and score, tying the game at 6-6. A fielder's choice and then a muffed throw scored Stewart and Pursley, putting the Salukis ahead by two.

UTSA answered back in the top of the seventh, leveling the score at 8-8.

Both teams traded runs in the eighth, with Williams hitting a game-tying RBI single to score Potter, making it 9-9.

In the top of the ninth, UTSA loaded the bases against Lucas. The freshman proceeded to record two strikeouts while the defense picked up a caught stealing, keeping the game tied.

Danielson got out of the 10th unscathed after producing a strikeout and a pop up to short, sending the game to the bottom of the 10th, even at 9-9.

With one out in the inning, Pursley at third, and Potter at second, Blomenkamp singled up the middle for the walk-off, 10-9 victory.

Up Next
After a lengthy doubleheader on Thursday, the Salukis will finish off their trip to Mexico on Friday at 7 p.m. in a rematch against Long Beach State.