Potter Homers Twice as Salukis Fall, 5-2, to Long Beach State

Friday, February 13

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

7 PM

Southern Illinois University

7-3

Long Beach State

6-3

Southern Ill.

Long Beach State

Sydney Potter

02/13/2026 | 11:00:00 | Softball

Box Score

By: Dominic Hoscher, SIUSalukis.com

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico - In its final game at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, the Southern Illinois University softball team (7-3) fell, 5-2, to Long Beach State on Friday.

"These were incredibly good games for us to come and experience on a neutral site with a post season feel," head coach Jen Sewell said. "It's been a lot this week but we fought. We can't recreate the post season feeling very often but this week had post season feels."

After the game, juniors Emily Williams and Sydney Potter were named to the All-Tournament team. Williams hit for a .438 batting average with a .526 on-base percentage, .813 slugging percentage, two home runs, and 10 RBI in Mexico. Potter homered three times, had eight RBI, posted a .412 batting average, .524 on-base percentage, and a 1.118 slugging percentage.

"I'm so excited for this club," Sewell said. "One of the best clubs we've coached here. What an incredible post experience in February. I can't give enough credit to my staff and this roster for being ready to compete."

SIU scored two runs on six hits with two errors in the loss, while Long Beach State tallied five runs on eight hits and no errors.

The game started off with a bang as Potter homered to left field for her seventh home run of the season, giving Southern Illinois an early, 1-0 lead.

Long Beach State answered back with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Two of the four runs came on a two-run home run to left by Avery Weisbrook to take the lead. After adding on two more, the Beach had a 4-1 advantage.

Emily Delgado entered the game with two outs in the first and avoided any further damage, keeping the deficit at three.

Potter cut it to two with her second home run of the game, this one coming in the top of the third. The junior now has eight home runs on the year, which is tied for the most in the NCAA.

Delgado produced a 1-2-3 bottom of the third which included two strikeouts looking, keeping the score at 4-2.

Long Beach State got back on the board in the bottom of the fourth when it scored one run on an RBI single, taking a 5-2 lead.

In the top of the seventh, the Salukis loaded the bases after a Haley Wilkerson walk, a Brooklyn Pritchett single, and a Charleston Pursley bunt single. But with one out in the inning, Potter hit into a 1-2-3 double play to end the game.

Potter, after homering twice and being intentionally walked, now leads the country in total bases at 43.

Up Next
Southern Illinois will return to the United States for its next tournament, which will be at UAB in Birmingham, Ala. SIU's first game will be against Mercer on Friday, Feb. 20, at 9 a.m. The Salukis will play five games from Feb. 20-Feb. 22, including against SEC opponents Ole Miss and Tennessee.