The second-seeded Southern Illinois Salukis ended their 2026 season with a loss to the third-seeded Murray State Racers in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Friday, May 8, at Charlotte West Stadium. With a 6-1 victory over the Dawgs, the Racers will take on the Belmont Bruins for the MVC title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament on Saturday, May 9. 

The Salukis’ starting pitcher was freshman pitcher Brooklyn Danielson, and it didn’t take long for the Racer offense to strike in the top of the first inning. A two RBI double gave Murray State a quick 2-0 lead, followed by an RBI single to left-center field, and they were in front by a score of 3-0 after the top of the first inning. 

SIU was set down in order in the bottom of the first inning, and the Racers remained ahead going into the second. 

Danielson recorded the first out of the top of the second inning before being relieved by freshman pitcher Hailey Lucas. Danielson pitched one and one-third innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs while picking up two strikeouts.

Lucas pitched around two Murray State singles, keeping the Racers off the scoreboard in the top of the second inning.

In the bottom of the second inning, junior designated player Emily Williams got a hold of a pitch, sending the ball soaring over the centerfield wall for a solo home run, putting the Dawgs on the board and down 3-1 after two innings. Williams recorded 16 home runs on the season.

The Murray State bats came through again in the top of the third inning with a lead-off solo home run to center field. Lucas bounced back with some help from a diving catch from Mikaela Coburn in left-center field. Lucas didn’t allow another Racer baserunner in the inning. But the damage was already done, and Murray State was on top by a score of 4-1 heading into the bottom of the third.

Freshman shortstop Jordan Stewart began the bottom of the third with a lead-off walk. However, the Saluki bats were unable to advance Stewart around to score, and the score remained 4-1 after three innings.

Lucas set the Racers down in order in the top of the fourth inning. The Dawgs made two quick outs in the bottom of the fourth before Williams singled up the middle. Again, SIU couldn’t string any offense together, stranding one Saluki on base. The score was still 4-1 in favor of the Racers after four innings of softball.

The Murray State offense added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning on a solo home run. Lucas recorded three outs, and Murray State scored one run on one hit, leaving one runner on base. Southern Illinois was unable to get any hits, going down to end the bottom of the fifth. The Racer lead was 5-1 over the Salukis after five innings.

Delgado replaced Lucas in the circle to begin the top of the sixth inning. Lucas exited the game with three and two-thirds innings pitched, surrendering three hits, two earned runs and one strikeout.

The Salukis suffered from some self-inflicted wounds in the top of the sixth inning. Committing a costly error, as well as two Murray State singles, the bases were loaded with only one out. An RBI groundout to second base scored another Racer run and extended the deficit to five runs. The score was 6-1, Murray State leading Southern Illinois heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

The top of the lineup was due up for SIU in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Saluki bats continued to struggle, hitting into two groundouts and a strikeout to end the sixth inning. 

The top of the seventh inning saw Delgado pitching out of a jam to hold the Racers scoreless. Murray State was held to no runs on one hit, stranding two on base. Delgado finished with two innings pitched, allowing three hits, one unearned run and striking out two Racer hitters.

The Dawgs trailed by a score of 6-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. The Salukis were down to their final three outs, needing five runs to send the game to extra innings and six runs to win. 

Potter started the bottom of the seventh off with a walk, but the Salukis couldn’t build enough momentum to mount a comeback. After a popout, a flyout and another popout, SIU came up short. 

Murray State defeated the Salukis by a final score of 6-1.

The third-seeded Murray State Racers advance to play the first-seeded Belmont Bruins in the MVC Championship on Saturday, May 9, at Charlotte West Stadium. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. 

The second-seeded Salukis finish the season with a 34-17 record overall. The Salukis finished in second place in the MVC during the regular-season and third place in the MVC Tournament.

Sport Reporter Aaron Carnahan can be reached at [email protected] 

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