Salukis Homer Seven Times Across Two Games, Go 2-0 Against Bradley on Friday

Friday, March 13

Carbondale, IL

2 PM

Southern Illinois University

14-9, 3-0

Bradley

6-16, 1-3

Bradley

Southern Ill.

Salukis Homer Seven Times Across Two Games, Go 2-0 Against Bradley on Friday

03/13/2026 | 8:05:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Dominic Hoscher, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - It was a historic day offensively for the Southern Illinois University softball team (15-9 overall, 4-0 MVC) as it defeated Bradley, 7-2, in game one and 15-0 (5) in game two.

Southern Illinois hit a combined seven home runs in the two games, including five in game two which tied a single-game program record. The last time SIU hit five home runs in a game was April 21, 2007, at Northern Iowa.

"I think it's [tying single-game home run record] a process of not trying to hit a home run and then you hit a home run," head coach Jen Sewell said. "It's like when you tell pitchers to pitch through the zone and then you end up striking people out vs. pitching around the zone. It has a funny effect when you're not trying to hit home runs."

Juniors Emily Williams and Amanda Knutson both homered three times in the Friday doubleheader. Fellow junior Sydney Potter also went deep once, her 12th of the year, during the second game of the day.

"Kudos to Amanda, I think she's done a lot of work. Some of the best at bats in the last two to three weeks that we've had in our program," Sewell said. "She's just a worker. Comes every day, pays attention, and has really bought in."

SIU was also dominant in the circle, limiting the Braves to two runs (one earned) across both games. Freshman Hailey Lucas (4-4) started game one and went the distance, allowing just two hits, two runs (one earned), and one walk with eight strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched.

Freshman Brooklynn Danielson (4-0) and junior Kaylen Grammer combined to blank Bradley in game two. Danielson got the start and allowed one hit, zero runs, and had two walks with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched. Grammer, making her first appearance as a Saluki, finished off the run-rule victory with a scoreless fifth inning where she allowed a hit, no runs, and tallied one strikeout.

"The mound was as good as it gets today," Sewell said. "Good starts, I thought B.D. (Brooklynn Danielson) looked really strong and healthy. Both starters were just spinning the ball."

Williams had a team-high seven RBI in the doubleheader, followed by Knutson's six and Potter's four. Five of Knutson's six RBI came in the nightcap.

Game One: 7-2 win over Bradley
Lucas started off the day with three strikeouts in the top of the first. SIU then wasted little time to strike in the bottom half as Potter hit an RBI double to score senior Erin Lee and give the hosts an early, 1-0 lead.

Bradley led-off the second with a solo home run, tying the game at 1-1.

The Salukis answered back in the bottom of the third as Williams hit a three-run home run to left field, scoring Lee and outfielder Maleah Blomenkamp. This gave Southern Illinois a 4-1 advantage.

In the following inning, the Braves scored an unearned run after a pair of errors by SIU. The run came with two outs in the fourth.

Lucas finished off the fifth with her sixth strikeout through five innings. This set the stage for the Salukis to extend their lead by two in the bottom half. Lee scored her third run of the day on a Williams sacrifice fly, while Potter crossed home plate after Hayden Kurtz also hit a sacrifice fly.

Knutson began the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run, her first since Feb. 8 against Ball State.

Finishing off another stellar outing, Lucas ended the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to secure the 7-2 victory for Southern Illinois.

Game Two: 15-0 (5) win over Bradley
It was all Southern Illinois in game two as it scored 15 runs, its most since tallying 22 vs. Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 11.

It was 0-0 entering the bottom of the second prior to a two-run home run by Knutson down the left field line. This was the infielder's second home run of the day.

After Danielson produced a scoreless top of the third, SIU exploded for a season-high 10 runs in the bottom of the inning. Williams got the scoring started with a two-run home run to right center, extending the lead to 4-0.

Kurtz proceeded to drive in Sage Grann with an RBI double to left center, making it 5-0. Three more runs were added on as Knutson launched a three-run shot to left to score Blomenkamp and pinch runner Brooklyn Pritchett.

Another three-run home run was hit by the Salukis when Potter drilled one to center, scoring Lee and Charleston Pursley. This was the 12th home run of the season for the junior catcher, the most in the Missouri Valley Conference. Potter is now tied for seventh all-time in single-season home runs at SIU.

In the very next at bat, Williams went deep for the third time in the doubleheader, giving the Salukis a 12-0 lead.

Amidst the offensive frenzy for Southern Illinois, Danielson continued her strong performance in the circle in the top of the fourth. The freshman recorded two consecutive flyouts to right field before ending the inning with a strikeout.

Three more insurance runs were added by the Salukis in the bottom of the inning. Senior Haley Wilkerson hit an RBI single to score freshman Delaney Osborne for SIU's first run of the fourth. Pursley picked up an RBI as Knutson scored on a groundout by the outfielder.

SIU's 15th run of game two involved both captains, as Lee singled to left to bring home Wilkerson.

Grammer, a transfer from St. Charles Community College, made her first appearance as a Saluki in the top of the fifth. The junior originally from Murphysboro, Ill., worked around a lead-off double to keep the Braves off the scoreboard and finish off SIU's 15-0, run-rule win.

Up Next
Southern Illinois will look to continue its dominant start to conference play on Saturday at 1 p.m. when it goes for the sweep against Bradley to conclude Military Apprecation Weekend.

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