SIU and Indiana State kicked off softball’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Thursday morning with a 5-3 Sycamore victory. 

The Salukis started the scoring early with a 2-run home run from sophomore left fielder Merri Anne Patterson, driving in senior center fielder Kalyn Harker, in the first inning. 

In the top of the second, the Sycamores got one run back when senior pitcher Katie Bertelsen threw a ball away over sophomore third baseman Brook Womack’s head, allowing a run to score and the batter to advance to second. 

SIU pushed its lead to 3-1 in the third inning when senior right fielder Meredith Wilson reached on a fielder’s choice to score a run. 

Indiana State scored 4 unanswered runs in the next three innings to lead 5-3 going into the final frame. Senior first baseman Megan Stone, who was named MVC Player of the Year, hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth to start the rally. 

Bertelsen finished the game with 5 runs, 3 earned, on 9 hits, 4 walks and 3 strikeouts, suffering the loss. 

Junior pitcher Taylor Lockwood allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts to earn the victory. 

Harker, the MVC batting champion with a.466 average, finished the game 2-for-3 with 2 runs and a stolen base. 

The Sycamores play fourth-ranked Wichita State at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at C. Howard Wilkins Softball Complex. 

Brent Meske can be reached at [email protected] or at 536-3311 ext. 269.