In the weekend series against the Evansville Aces (18-13, 6-6 MVC), the Saluki softball team (28-7, 10-4 MVC) went 2-1, winning the first game 3-1 and the last game 4-1. The Salukis lost the second game 8-2.

In the first game of the series, the Salukis scored the first run in the second inning with an RBI by grad student infielder Maddy Vermejan where freshman outfielder Elizabeth Warwick scored.

“I think it is always important to get on the board first, if not in the first inning. It kind of takes the pressure off a little bit,” graduate student catcher Katelyn Massa said.

This was followed by a run in the third inning from Evansville’s sophomore infielder Hannah Hood from an RBI by senior outfielder Katie McLean tying the score 1-1.

Both teams remained scoreless until the seventh inning where SIU’s senior outfielder Jenny Jansen hit a homerun bringing herself and Vermejan home, winning the game 3-1.

Evansville started the second game with an early 8-0 lead with runs by senior catcher Eryn Gould, freshman infielder Marah Wood, senior outfielder Mea Adams, McLean, junior infielder Jessica Fehr and senior infielder Haile Fain.

The Aces held Southern scoreless for six innings until Jansen hit a homerun in the seventh inning where she and freshman outfielder Bailey Caylor scored, unfortunately it was not enough to catch up and Evansville won 8-2.

The last game started with a homerun by Massa in the first inning that brought her and Vermejan home. Vermejan scored again in the third inning from a hit by Massa, making the score 3-0.

“It was huge, [Massa] was struggling a bit in the first game offensively and […] she’s came up with really big hits and she just did a really good job,” Kerri Blaylock said.

The Salukis held Evansville scoreless until the fifth inning where they scored their first and only run by Hood from a RBI by Gould.

Southern scored their last run in the sixth inning from a RBI by freshman infielder Rylie Hamilton that led to Maris Boelens scoring, winning the game 4-1.

“[Hamilton] is a tough kid and she’s just trying to get used to division one, but that was a huge hit,” Blaylock said.

The Salukis will take the field against Illinois State University on April 17 and 18 in Normal, Ill.

Staff reporter Janae Mosby can be reached at jmosby@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @mosbyj.

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