SIU softball (17-22-1, 11-9) swept Loyola (13-30, 3-16) and has won four of its last five Missouri Valley Conference games with six remaining this season. 

In game one, senior pitcher Katie Bertelsen (14-12) picked up her second complete game shutout of the year, and the fourth of her career. She did the same on April 15 in a 2-0 victory against Evansville. 

Bertelsen finished with 2 hits, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched. 

The Salukis started their 8-0, six inning run-rule victory with home runs from sophomore first baseman Shaye Harre and freshman second baseman Savanna Fisher. Fisher’s 2-run shot to left field scored junior designated player Lacey Newbold, who was hit by a pitch. 

SIU added another run in the third when freshman catcher Sydney Jones singled, scoring senior center fielder Kalyn Harker. 

Another 3 runs were scored in the fifth inning when senior right fielder Meredith Wilson cleared the bases with a 2-out single. 

SIU put the eighth run across the board in the sixth. Sophomore left fielder Merri Anne Patterson doubled down the left field line and scored junior shortstop Kelsey Gonzalez. 

In game two, a 5-3 Saluki victory, Harre stepped into the circle and improved to 2-5. She allowed 3 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks and 1 strikeout in her first complete game victory. 

The scoring started with a lead off home run from Gonzalez, her second of the year. 

SIU tacked on 4 more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Harre singled to score Harker followed by a Jones single which drove in three. 

The Rambler bats came alive in the seventh inning when freshman shortstop Brooke Wyderski hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score junior catcher Katy LaCivita. Later in the inning, senior second baseman Jessica Balzano hit a home run to left field to score herself and one more. 

In game three, the Salukis wasted no time en route to a 10-2 win. SIU scored 8 runs on 6 hits and 4 errors in the first 3 innings.

Harre added 2 more RBIs to her weekend total with a 2-out, 2-run single in the second inning. 

Bertelsen took advantage of the early lead and finished the game with 2 runs allowed on a home run, 6 hits, 3 strikeouts and no walks. 

The Salukis lit up the Ramblers’ starting pitcher junior Ashley Rogers for 8 runs, 2 earned, on 6 hits, 3 walks and 1 strikeout through 3 innings.  

The Salukis will host two midweek games beginning 4 p.m. Tuesday at Charlotte West Stadium against University of Tennessee Martin. 

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

PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND: SHAYE HARRE

Pitching: win, 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R (none earned), 2 BB, 1 K

Hitting: 4-for-9, 4 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 3 BB, 2 K