Salukis Drop Both Games on Saturday to Ole Miss, UAB

Saturday, February 21

Birmingham, AL

9 AM

Southern Illinois University

8-5

Ole Miss

9-4

Southern Illinois

Ole Miss

02/21/2026 | 9:13:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Dominic Hoscher, SIUSalukis.com

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southern Illinois University softball team (8-6) was unable to get back into the win column on Saturday, falling, 1-0, to Ole Miss in nine innings and 7-3 to UAB in game two.

Freshman Hailey Lucas dazzled against the Rebels, allowing just one earned run, three hits, and no walks with five strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched. The lone run Lucas surrendered came in the ninth inning. This was SIU's first time being shut-out this season.

Sydney Potter hit her 10th home run of the year in her first at bat of game two vs. UAB. The Salukis scored three total runs in the opening inning, but were unable to score again, ultimately falling, 7-3, after seven unanswered UAB runs.

Game One: 1-0 (9) loss vs. Ole Miss
Due to weather, SIU's game vs. Ole Miss started at 1 p.m. instead of its initially scheduled 9 a.m. start time. After the long wait, the game ended up being a pitchers duel with freshman Hailey Lucas going the distance for the Salukis.

Both teams had three hits and one error on Saturday.

Lucas started off her outing with two strikeouts in the first, both being looking. The freshman pitcher worked around a two-out single in the second for another scoreless frame.

Southern Illinois' best opportunity offensively came in the fourth. The Salukis loaded the bases with nobody out after a Sage Grann double, Emily Williams single, and Erin Lee walk. Despite the traffic, SIU was unable to plate a run after a foul out and an inning-ending double play.

Lucas retired 14 consecutive batters between the fourth and eighth innings, keeping the game at 0-0.

Ole Miss won the game in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off home run, securing the 1-0 victory over Southern Illinois.

Game Two: 7-3 loss vs. UAB
The Salukis played the hosts, UAB, at 6 p.m., four hours later than when it was originally scheduled.

SIU scored three runs on eight hits, but had three errors in the loss. UAB scored seven runs on 11 hits with one error on the other side.

Sydney Potter launched her league-leading 10th home run of the season in the top of the first, scoring Maleah Blomenkamp and giving Southern a 2-0 lead. The 10 home runs by Potter are the second-most in the NCAA.

One more run was added for Southern Illinois after Lee hit a sacrifice fly to score Grann. At the end of the top of the first, SIU led, 3-0.

The hosts got one back in the bottom half of the inning after a Saluki error.

Starter Emily Delgado tossed a 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout in the second, keeping the visitors ahead.

Southern Illinois would remain in front until the fifth. UAB scored two runs in the inning, taking a 4-3 lead.

The Blazers added insurance one inning later with three runs in the sixth. UAB finished it off in the seventh, winning by a final score of 7-3.

Up Next
The Salukis will face their stiffest test yet on Sunday at 2 p.m. when they face No. 1 Tennessee in Birmingham, Ala. This will be SIU's final game at the UAB Green and Gold Classic.

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.