Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University softball team encountered a narrow defeat against Murray State, concluding the match with a 5-4 score on Sunday. This close loss marked the end of Southern Illinois’ 16-game home victory streak, previously among the longest in the nation.

During the course of the game, both Southern Illinois and Murray State recorded nine hits each. While the Salukis made no errors, the Racers faced three. McKenzie Newcomb from Southern Illinois displayed an impressive performance, pitching for 5.2 innings and allowing three hits and no runs, alongside seven strikeouts and only one walk.

Addi Baker stood out by going 2-for-4, including hitting her 11th home run of the season, adding one RBI and two runs. Anna Carder also contributed significantly with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBIs.

The Racers quickly secured a lead with two runs in the first inning, extending it with a two-run homer in the second inning for a 4-0 advantage, adding one more run afterward. Southern Illinois managed to get on the board with a solo home run from senior Addi Baker.

By the bottom of the fifth, Southern Illinois narrowed the deficit with a two-run double by Anna Carder. Continuing their rally, Baker scored in the subsequent inning, closing the gap to a 5-4 game. The game reached a contentious conclusion when Mikaela Coburn's ground ball resulted in a controversial call that overturned a potential game-winning run, ending the match in favor of Murray State.

Southern Illinois will wrap up their regular season on the road against Evansville, starting the series on Friday, May 2, at 5 p.m.

Fans can stay updated on the Salukis by following their official social media handles on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram under @SIU_Softball or by downloading the "Salukis" Mobile App available on the App Store and Google Play Store.