In the final road series of the season, the SIU softball team matched up with the Evansville Purple Aces for a doubleheader on Saturday.

Saluki pitching was too much for the Purple Aces (14-31, 7-15 MVC) as they swept the doubleheader, 1-0 and 5-3.

Game 1

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The first game of the doubleheader saw both teams struggle offensively as neither squad plated an earned run on the opposing pitcher.

With solid pitching from both teams, the game went into extra innings where Southern finally broke the scoring plane in the 16th to take the game.

SIU’s one and only run came on an error with a runner on first.

Junior starting pitcher Brianna Jones (21-7) pitched all 16 innings, giving up only six hits, one walk and 20 strikeouts, a new single-season record for Saluki softball.

Freshman shortstop Jenny Jansen was Southern’s most successful offensive player as she went 3-6 with one walk.

Game 2

The Salukis found their first run in the second game much quicker as they scored on a bases-loaded walk in the second.

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Jansen continued her offensive charge as she nailed a solo home run in the third that stretched the lead to 2-0.

Evansville finally got on the board in the fourth with a two-run homer, followed by a solo shot for a 3-2 lead.

SIU refused to stay down as in the final inning of the game, however, and with runners on first and second, senior third baseman Sydney Jones hit a line drive that plated a run and evened the score at three.

Jones finished 2-4 with one run and one RBI.

With a fielder’s choice that loaded the bases, Southern scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, followed with a single from freshman center fielder Maris Boelens.

The Purple Aces could not get anything going in the final half of the inning and SIU took the 5-3 win, sweeping the doubleheader.

Senior starting pitcher Savanna Dover (5-12) got the win after pitching the complete game with three earned runs on three hits. She also walked three and struck out 10, a season-high.

SIU (26-20, 9-11 MVC) will close out the three-game series tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Sports reporter Dillon Gilliland can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @DillonGilliland.

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