Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
24-13, 13-4
Drake
8-28, 2-13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Ill. | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 0 |
| Drake | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
Blomenkamp Hits First-Career Home Run as Softball Goes 2-0 on Friday at Drake
04/10/2026 | 9:41:00 | Softball
DES MOINES, Iowa - On day one in Iowa, the Southern Illinois University softball team (25-13 overall, 14-4 MVC) went 2-0 against Drake, winning by a final score of 11-0 in game one and 3-1 in game two.
The Salukis hit four home runs on the day, including the first-career homer for Maleah Blomenkamp. Mikaela Coburn, Amanda Knutson, and Emily Williams hit the team's other three home runs on Friday.
It was a strong showing in the circle for Southern Illinois as Brooklynn Danielson, Emily Delgado, and Hailey Lucas combined to allow just one run. Danielson (9-1) and Lucas (7-6) both picked up wins, while Delgado earned her third save of the season.
Blomenkamp's 5-for-8 line paced the Salukis on Friday, followed by Coburn and Erin Lee who both tallied three hits each. Knutson, Sydney Potter, Jordan Stewart, Hayden Kurtz, and Sage Grann all had two hits in the doubleheader.
Game One: 11-0 win at Drake
Southern Illinois was strong in all areas in game one, scoring 11 runs on 17 hits while blanking Drake in seven innings. SIU also did not commit an error in the first game of the day.
Blomenkamp came around to score Southern's first run of the day after Williams put the ball in play and Drake committed an error.
After allowing a lead-off single, Danielson recorded three consecutive strikeouts in the bottom of the first to leave one Bulldog on base and keep SIU ahead, 1-0.
The lead was extended to 3-0 in the second after a two-run single by Blomenkamp scored both Coburn and Lee.
In the bottom half of the inning, Danielson continued her dominant performance with three more strikeouts. The first seven outs recorded by the freshman were all via strikeout.
Southern piled on four more runs in the top of the fourth, starting with a solo home run by Blomenkamp. This was the first of the redshirt sophomore's career.
After a two-out single by Potter, Knutson launched a two-run home run to left center to give the Salukis a 6-0 lead. This became a 7-0 advantage after an RBI single by Stewart drove in Kurtz.
Danielson fired scoreless fourth, fifth, and sixth innings before SIU scored four more runs in the top of the seventh. A pinch-hit, RBI double by Haley Wilkerson brought home Grann to make it 8-0. Wilkerson proceeded to score on an error.
Lee delivered an RBI single to drive in Knutson before Stewart scored SIU's 11th run of the game.
Danielson was replaced by Delgado in the seventh, who struck out the side to end the game.
In 6.0 innings pitched, Danielson allowed four hits, zero runs, and one walk with a career-high nine strikeouts. Delgado didn't allow a baserunner and recorded three strikeouts in her one inning of work.
Blomenkamp finished game one 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Lee went 3-for-4 while Grann, Knutson, and Stewart all had two hits each. Knutson had two RBI and two runs scored to go along with the home run.
Game Two: 3-1 win at Drake
Lucas began game two with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first. This set the stage for the Salukis to take an early lead in the second after Blomenkamp continued her big day with an RBI single to score Kurtz, making it 1-0.
With one out in the top of the third, Williams hit her 13th home run of the season to extend the lead to 2-0. In conference play, the junior has a team-high 11 homers in 18 games played.
After Lucas registered her third-straight 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third, Coburn homered to left field with two outs to give the Salukis a 3-0 advantage. This was the junior's first home run since Feb. 8 against Long Island.
Both teams traded scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth innings, leading to Southern Illinois taking a 3-0 lead into the seventh.
Drake started off the final inning of the game with a lead-off double. Two batters later, the Bulldogs scored their first run of the game on another double, making it 3-1. This led to Delgado entering the game and shutting the door, producing a ground out and a strikeout to conclude things in game two.
Lucas finished with a line of 6.1 innings pitched, six hits, one run, no walks, and five strikeouts in earning her seventh win of the year. Delgado was sharp once again, not allowing a baserunner for the second time on the day.
Coburn's two hits were a team-high. The three RBI were recorded by Coburn, Williams, and Blomenkamp in the win.
Up Next
Southern Illinois will go for the sweep on Saturday, with first pitch currently scheduled for 2 p.m. against Drake.
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.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Danielson, Brooklynn (9-1)
L: Peyton Driscoll (0-12)
Batting:
2B: Grann, Sage 1 ; Wilkerson, Haley 1 ; Lee, Erin 1
3B: Stewart, Jordan 1
HR: Blomenkamp, Maleah 1 ; Knutson, Amanda 1
RBI: Blomenkamp, Maleah 3 ; Williams, Emily 1 ; Wilkerson, Haley 1 ; Knutson, Amanda 2 ; Stewart, Jordan 1 ; Lee, Erin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Blomenkamp, Maleah 2 ; Grann, Sage 1 ; Wilkerson, Haley 1 ; Potter, Sydney 1 ; Knutson, Amanda 2 ; Kurtz, Hayden 1 ; Stewart, Jordan 1 ; Lee, Erin 1 ; Coburn, Mikaela 1
SB: Pritchett, Brooklyn 1
HBP: Potter, Sydney 1
Batting:
2B: Ava Curry 1
