WICHITA, Kan.- Wichita State dropped to 15-27 overall and 5-12 in Missouri Valley Conference play after dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Southern Illinois (30-16, 15-3) on Saturday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium.

Game One

Wichita State (15-26, 5-11) grabbed an early lead but Southern Illinois (29-16, 14-3) used two home runs to take game one of Saturday's doubleheader, 3-1, at Wilkins Stadium.

Both pitchers were on their game early on, forcing the opposition to hit the ball in the air when they made any contact at all. For the game, Kolb and SIU's Danielle Glosson recorded a total of 19 outs in the air and just one on the ground.

Not surprisingly, all four runs in the game were scored via the home run.

After retiring the first four WSU hitters she faced, Glosson gave up the first shot of the game to Kiersten Dixon. Dixon took Glosson's first offering over the wall in left for her second homer of the season and first since going yard against Tulsa back on Feb. 19.

After giving up a bloop double in the first, Kolb retired nine stright Saluki batters before Katie Wilson put SIU on the board with a solo homer to center. After falling behind in the count, Wilson battled back and took Kolb's 3-2 pitch just over the wall.

The run ended a 24.2 inning scoreless streak against the Salukis in Wichita. WSU swept SIU in 2008, with the Shockers shutting out the Salukis in all three games.

Glosson allowed just one hit the rest of the way, while Alicia Garza added a two-run homer in the sixth on a full-count offering from Kolb.

Lindsie Mitts gave WSU its only other hit of the game on a bunt single to leadoff the sixth, but Glosson retired the next three batters she faced to end the inning.

Kolb took the loss for the Shockers, falling to 9-16, after allowing three runs on four hits while striking out seven.


Game Two

Southern Illinois (30-16, 15-3) put up three runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings and topped Wichita State (15-27, 5-12), 9-4, in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at Wilkins Stadium.

SIU starting pitcher Alex Peters cruised through the first six inning while her offense gave plenty of support.

The Salukis scored three runs in the third thanks to back-to-back home runs by Katie Wilson and Allie Hanson. Wilson's was a two-run shot and was her second of the day.

Lindsie Mitts broke up Peters' no-hit bid with a bunt single in the sixth, but was stranded after three ground ball outs.

An inning later, Kiersten Dixon ended the shutout with a solo homer to left-center to lead off the seventh. The blast was her second of the day after homering in game one.

Pinch hitter Danika Miller singled to right and moved to second on a passed ball. Sammie Shook and Mitts loaded the bases with an infield single and a walk with two outs.

With that the Salukis turned to game one winner Danielle Glosson to finish the game.

After going 0 for 3 against Glosson in game one, sophomore Kersti Rowan came through with a single to left to score Miller. Shook came around to score when the ball rolled under the glove of left fielder Mallory Duran to make it 9-3.

Kara L'Huillier capped off the scoring with an RBI single to plate Mitts before Glosson struck out Heather Gerritse to end the game.

WSU starter Brianna Smet fell to 1-6 on the season after allowing five runs, four of which were earned, on six hits in 4.1 innings. The junior walked two while striking out one.

The Shockers will look to avoid the three-game sweep tomorrow when they host the Salukis in the series finale at noon.