Kurtz Hits First-Career Home Run as Softball Splits Day Two at Lipscomb Purple and Gold Challenge

Saturday, February 28

Nashville, TN

10 AM

Southern Illinois University

9-9

Purdue

11-6

Southern Ill.

Purdue

Kurtz Hits First-Career Home Run as Softball Splits Day Two at Lipscomb Purple and Gold Challenge

02/28/2026 | 9:31:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Dominic Hoscher, SIUSalukis.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On the second day of the Lipscomb Purple and Gold Challenge, the Southern Illinois University softball team (10-9) defeated Western Carolina, 5-1, after falling to Purdue, 10-0 (6).

Game one against Purdue concluded after six innings, as the Boilermakers hit a walk-off, three-run home run in the sixth to win, 10-0. Purdue out-hit SIU, 12-3, while both teams committed one error in the Saturday opener. Maleah Blomenkamp, Mikaela Coburn, and Amanda Knutson recorded the team's three hits.

Sophomore Hayden Kurtz hit her first-career home run in SIU's 5-1 win over Western Carolina. Freshmen Brooklynn Danielson and Hailey Lucas were dominant in the circle, holding the Catamounts to just one run and three hits in game two. First baseman Sage Grann went 3-for-3 against Western Carolina while Blomenkamp scored a pair of runs and Kurtz had two RBI.

Game One: 10-0 (6) loss vs. Purdue
Southern Illinois had an early opportunity to strike against Purdue, loading the bases with two outs before a fielder's choice ended the top of the first. Sydney Potter, Emily Williams, and Sage Grann all reached via walks before the inning-ending out.

Purdue tallied four runs in the bottom frame to go ahead, 4-0. The Boilermakers hit a pair of two-RBI singles to take the early advantage against junior pitcher Emily Delgado.

The Salukis were again able to create traffic on the basepaths in the following inning. Freshman shortstop Jordan Stewart drew a one-out walk before Blomenkamp singled with two outs. SIU was unable to capitalize, keeping the deficit at four.

Delgado settled in after the first, holding the Boilermakers scoreless in the next three frames. Through four innings, Purdue still led, 4-0.

After SIU was unable to bring home a run in the fifth, Purdue added two to its tally with a two-run home run against junior Kiana McDowell who relieved Delgado after a lead-off walk.

Purdue scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to win by a final score of 10-0.

Game Two: 5-1 win vs. Western Carolina
Danielson got off to a strong start against the Catamounts, tossing a 1-2-3 first inning for the Salukis. In the second, the freshman pitcher worked around a one-out walk with back-to-back strikeouts, keeping the score at 0-0.

The game would remain scoreless until the third, when Western Carolina took a 1-0 lead off an RBI single. Southern Illinois answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning as Blomenkamp hit a double to score Pursley before Potter hit a sacrifice fly to put SIU ahead.

Lucas entered the game with one out in the top of the fourth and was lights-out for Southern Illinois, retiring the first four batters she faced to keep SIU ahead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Potter walked with one out, setting the stage for Kurtz who came in as a pinch hitter. The sophomore proceeded to launch her first-career home run to left field, giving the Salukis a 4-1 lead.

One inning later, SIU added more insurance after Pursley scored on a wild pitch, giving Southern Illinois a 5-1 advantage.

Lucas slammed the door in the seventh, leading to the Salukis winning by a final score of 5-1.

Up Next
Southern Illinois will finish off its trip to Nashville on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. when it faces the hosts, Lipscomb.

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