The Salukis were already in a 5-1 when the second out was made in the top of the fifth inning Sunday, but the Indiana State Sycamores were able to drive in four more runs before the inning ended to pull ahead of the Salukis.

SIU (25-26, 9-12 Missouri Valley Conference) was swept in their last conference series of the season against Indiana State (40-12, 13-5 MVC). Sunday’s 10-4 loss was the sixth in a row for the Salukis, which dropped them to sixth in the Valley standings.

“Everybody is still going out there, giving their best,” said junior first baseman Austin Montgomery. “It’s just not falling into place right now.”

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The Salukis couldn’t overcome early deficits in their 6-3 loss Friday and 7-5 loss Saturday.

Junior left-hander Cody Forsythe went seven innings Friday, but a three-run top of the first for Indiana State was too much to overcome for the Salukis. He gave up four runs, one earned on seven hits in the loss.

“I was able to settle down; throw up some zeros,” Forsythe said. “But our offense never really got going, they kept us off balance and we could never get over that hump.”

The Salukis almost got over an early six-run deficit in Saturday’s match, but SIU stranded the tying run at first base when senior outfielder Jordan Sivertsen lined out to center field for the final out of the game.

Junior left-hander Nathan Dorris, who started Saturday for an injured Cameron Maldonado, gave up six runs in the top of the second inning, but only allowed two hits after.

He pitched six innings and gave up seven runs, but only one was earned.

“I should’ve done a better job limiting the damage, even though the fielders didn’t make the plays behind me,” Dorris said. “I should’ve toughened up and got the outs on my own.”

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The Salukis committed four errors in Saturday’s loss.

SIU could finish fifth if Evansville (30-22, 9-9 MVC) loses all three games of its last conference series against Illinois State (29-16, 8-8 MVC) May 18-20. SIU took on Saint Louis in a non-conference match-up Tuesday, check the Daily Egyptian’s website for a recap.