SIU’s Softball team traveled up to Indiana on Sunday to begin a three-game set against conference rival Valparaiso. The Salukis ended up taking all three games against the Beacons by a combined score of 32-7 across the three games.

Highlighting the offensive explosion for the Salukis was sophomore Elizabeth Warwick, who went seven for 12 at the plate over the weekend with a .583 batting against the Beacons. Warwick batted in eight total runs, including a homer in game one, as well as being walked twice.

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Senior Ashley Wood also produced some power against Valparaiso, with two homers in game three alone. She produced a .400 batting average across the three games while going four for ten at the plate with four walks, batting in two total runs as well.

SIU kicked off the 3 game stretch with an early win on Sunday. Junior Sarah Harness was the starting pitcher in game 1 and earned a win after only giving up one earned run off nine hits and two walks and struck out four batters as well.

After a competitive first couple of innings that put it at a 4-4 tie, the Salukis bounced back with 6 unanswered runs scored through the rest of the game, including a five-run top of the fourth. Junior Tori Schullian, sophomores Elisabeth Huckleberry and Bailey Caylor, and junior Aubree DePron all had RBIs in the top of the fourth to secure the win. Warwick added another in the top of the seventh for good measure. SIU closed out game one with a 10-4 final score.

The Salukis kept it going with Madi Eberle starting game two on Sunday. They had another five-run inning, but this time in the top of the first. Sophomore Rylie Hamilton, senior Sidney Sikes, Warwick, and Caylor all had RBIs in the inning to get a quick 5-0 lead. Eberle made sure that lead was kept intact by only allowing 3 hits the entire game, all singles and southern went out of Sunday with another big win of 10-1 over the Beacons.

Game three saw the Salukis easily complete the sweep over Valparaiso. Harness got the start again on Monday and only gave up one earned run yet again. She allowed six hits while walking one and striking out four in seven innings of work. A three-run second inning gained SIU the 4-0 lead before Harness got to her fifth batter. The top of the seventh saw SIU already up 7-1, but that didn’t stop them from scoring five more runs to seal the deal.

Wood nailed her second home run of the game in the seventh with a shot to center field. Junior Kerrigan Gamm added one more 3 batters later and Warwick nailed a double to right field to clear the bases and add three more runs to the tally. SIU finished out game three with a 12-2 final score.

Sports reporter Joseph Bernard can be reached at [email protected] or on twitter @Jojobernard2001.

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