Salukis Earn Pair of Run-Rule Victories in Tuesday Doubleheader against Evansville

Tuesday, April 7

Carbondale, IL

2 PM

Southern Illinois University

22-13, 11-4

Evansville

16-19, 9-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Evansville	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
Southern Ill.	0	3	2	0	0	4	9	8	0

Salukis Earn Pair of Run-Rule Victories in Tuesday Doubleheader against Evansville

04/07/2026 | 6:37:00 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Dominic Hoscher, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University softball team (23-13 overall, 12-4 MVC) collected two more wins on Tuesday against Evansville, defeating the Purple Aces, 9-0, in six innings in game one and, 8-0, in five innings in game two.

Southern Illinois recorded a total of 17 runs and 19 hits across the two contests, while freshmen Brooklynn Danielson and Hailey Lucas combined to blank the Aces. Danielson and Lucas surrendered just four hits on Tuesday.

Hayden Kurtz led the way offensively with a 3-for-4 day that saw the sophomore tally three doubles, four RBI, two walks, and two runs scored. Emily Williams' four hits were a team-high, followed by Amanda Knutson's two. Sydney Potter walked four times and scored three runs against Evansville.

Game One: 9-0 (6) win vs. Evansville
Danielson got off to a strong start in game one of the doubleheader, firing a 1-2-3 top of the first inning against the Aces. One inning later, Evansville produced a pair of two-out hits, but both runners were stranded after the freshman ended the frame with a strikeout.

In the bottom of the second, SIU struck for three runs to take a 3-0 lead. Kurtz got the scoring started with an RBI double to drive in Potter. Knutson then scored on a ground out hit by Jordan Stewart. Southern Illinois' third run of the inning came off an Evansville error, leading to the hosts going up by a score of 3-0.

The Salukis added two to their tally in the bottom of the third after Stewart hit a two-run single up the middle to bring home both Potter and Knutson. Three innings in, Southern led, 5-0.

Danielson kept the advantage at five after firing scoreless fourth and fifth frames.

Southern Illinois loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but was unable to extend its lead after a fielder's choice and fly out to left field ended the inning.

SIU's freshman starting pitcher worked around a one-out single in the sixth to keep the Salukis ahead, 5-0.

The Salukis ended the game with a four-run sixth inning. First, it was Sage Grann delivering an RBI double to score Mikaela Coburn. The very next batter, Emily Williams, proceeded to hit a walk-off, three-run home run to right center to finish off the run-rule, 9-0 victory for Southern Illinois.

Danielson (7-1) earned the win after allowing just three hits and one walk with two strikeouts across six scoreless innings. Williams and Knutson led the team with two hits each, while Williams' three RBI were tied with Stewart for a team-high. Potter reached in all three at bats with three walks and two runs scored.

Game Two: 8-0 (5) win vs. Evansville
The second game of the day started off in similar fashion as the first with a 1-2-3 inning for Lucas. The freshman concluded the frame with a strikeout looking via the changeup.

Lucas' changeup was working again in the second as she produced a strikeout swinging, a soft grounder to the circle, and a pop up to center to retire the side in order.

Southern Illinois tallied two runs in the bottom of the inning to go up, 2-0. Kurtz, just like in game one, hit an RBI double to right center in her first at bat of the game to drive in Knutson. Then, with two outs, Coburn delivered an RBI single through the right side to bring home Kurtz.

The Aces were able to get a runner to third base in the following inning, but Lucas stranded her there after producing a pop up to Kurtz at first.

Kurtz hit her third double of the day in the bottom of the third, this time driving in two to extend the lead to 4-0.

One inning later, Southern added on to its advantage, first with Williams hitting an RBI single to score Coburn. Potter then drew a bases-loaded walk to give SIU a 6-0 lead.

After another scoreless inning from Lucas in the fifth, the Salukis wrapped things up in the bottom half with two more runs coming off the bat of Blomenkamp. Both Stewart and Erin Lee scored, securing the 8-0 win for SIU in five innings.

Lucas (6-6) was dominant in 5.0 innings pitched, allowing just one hit and one walk with a pair of strikeouts. Blomenkamp, Williams, and Kurtz were tied for a team-high two hits each while Kurtz led the way in terms of RBI with three. Potter went 1-for-2 with one walk, one RBI, and one run scored.

Up Next
Southern Illinois' busy stretch continues this weekend with a trip to Des Moines, Iowa, to visit Drake. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday, April 10, at 2:30 p.m. and conclude on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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