Saluki softball hosted its final doubleheader of the regular season against the Northern Iowa Panthers on Saturday.

SIU split the doubleheader with the Panthers (26-24, 11-13 MVC) with a 4-2 win and a 6-1 loss.

Game 1

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After three scoreless innings, UNI found themselves on the scoreboard with a single, followed by two-run home run by sophomore catcher Ashley Chesser.

Southern waited until the final inning to make its presence known as the Salukis put runners on first and second with singles, only for sophomore catcher Katelyn Massa to drive both in with a single of her own, tying it up at 2-2.

With one swing of the bat by freshman shortstop Jenny Jansen, SIU won the game with a walk off two-run homer to take the first game of the double header.

Junior starting pitcher Brianna Jones (23-7) earned the win with a complete game. She gave up only two earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out four.

Despite the scoring drought, the Salukis still showed efficiency with the bats as they pieced together nines with no one being sat down on strikes.

Game 2

Senior starting pitcher Savanna Dover struggled early in the second game, giving up back-to-back walks and an RBI single for a 1-0 deficit.

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Massa got her team right back in it in the second inning with a solo homer, leveling the score at one run each.

Dover continued to struggle in the third, hitting two batters followed a by a single as the Panthers went up 2-1.

The Panthers extended their lead even further in the fourth as they loaded up the bases only for senior first baseman Kennedy Bailey to drive in three on a happier.

With one more single in the inning UNI scored Bailey and went up 6-1.

Southern could not get anything going in the final innings, giving Northern Iowa the 6-1 won and splitting the doubleheader.

Dover (5-13) received the loss after going 3.2 innings with six earned runs on five hits and four walks.

Up next

SIU (28-21, 11-12 MVC) will close out the series tomorrow in its final game of the regular season. 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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