After sweeping Bradley over the weekend, Saluki softball travelled to Cape Girardeau to face off against Southeast Missouri State.

In their first matchup of the season in Carbondale (23-6, 5-3 MVC) on March 16, the Salukis got the better end of the Redhawks defeating them 6-2.

This time around, SEMO got the better end against Southern defeating the Salukis 6-0, with a good outing from junior pitcher Rachel Rook.

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Rook managed to give up only two hits to SIU, while striking out nine and pitching all nine innings.

Freshman pitcher Madi Eberle got the ball in the circle for Southern, and she was relieved in the second inning after getting one out, giving up four runs on four hits.

After Eberle walked freshman infielder Kynzie Wrigley with one out in the first inning, SEMO used three straight singles to put two runs on the board.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the first, a fielding error by the Salukis, cost SIU two more runs as the Redhawks were up 4-0 after one inning.

The Salukis had runners in scoring position in the second and sixth innings but they were unable to bring them across the plate.

In the second inning, freshman outfielder Elizabeth Warwick was hit by a pitch with two outs, Warwick stole second but junior infielder Sidney Sikes struck out on a full count to end the threat.

In the sixth inning, senior outfielder Maris Boelens reached first on a fielding error by the SEMO shortstop with one out, the next batter, senior infielder Jenny Jansen, reached base with a walk.

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Rook was able to get around the two base runners for the Redhawks by getting graduate senior Katelyn Massa to pop out to the shortstop and senior infielder Meredith Wernig to strike out swinging.

Down 5-0 in the seventh inning, the Salukis sent five batters to the plate, but SEMO ended the threat by Southern when on a fielder’s choice, sophomore outfielder Aubree DePron was ruled out on third base.

Up next SIU will be back in conference play facing off against Loyola on Friday April 2 in Chicago with the first pitch set for 12pm.

Sports Reporter Adam Warfel can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @warfel_adam.

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