WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita State softball team dropped two games (2-1, 10-3) to the Southern Illinois Salukis Saturday at Wilkins Stadium.

Cacy Williams went 4-for-6 with a homer and an RBI to lead the Shockers at the plate.

The Salukis got on the board first, putting a runner in scoring position early in the inning before Harre hit a RBI single to left field to give Southern Illinois a 1-0 lead. The Shockers wouldn't let the Salukis have the lead for long, however, scoring in the bottom half of the inning on a SAC fly by Paige Luellen to tie the game, 1-1.

Southern Illinois threatened to score in the fourth with runners at first and second but Luellen threw out the leadoff runner at home from right field to get the third out and keep the score tied going into the bottom half of the inning.

Merrianne Patterson hit a solo home run to left center in the fifth to give the Salukis a 2-1 lead and the Shockers couldn't get the bats hot enough as Southern Illinois took game one from Wichita State.

Katie Malone was recorded with the loss for the Shockers, allowing six hits and two runs, while striking out three in five innings.

Williams connected on the third pitch of the first inning in the second game to get her 13th home run of the season, giving the Shockers a 1-0 lead.

Kelsey Gonzalez wouldn't let the lead last long, however, hitting a home run of her own to start off the second inning, tying the game, 1-1. Meredith Wilson hit a home run to center field shortly after to give the Salukis a 2-1 advantage.

Jenni Brooks replaced Sloan Anderson in the second inning after Anderson allowed three hits and two runs in 1.1 innings.

Southern Illinois added another run in the third inning, putting runners at first and second before hitting a RBI double to left center to give the Salukis a 3-1 lead.

Wichita State tied the game in the bottom half of the third inning, hitting back-to-back singles before Fortner reached on a fielder's choice that saw Jaegers out on the force at second. Luellen reached on a SIU error, bringing in one runner before Broyles reached on a fielder's choice that saw Fortner reach home and tie the game 3-3 going into the fourth inning.

The Salukis regained the lead in the fifth, hitting a leadoff single and advancing to second on a SAC bunt before hitting a RBI single up the middle to give SIU the 4-3 lead. SIU added another run on a RBI single up the middle to extend the lead, 5-3.

Southern Illinois added four runs in the sixth, hitting five doubles with four RBIs to take a 9-3 lead over Wichita State. The Salukis hit a RBI single to right field in the seventh to give SIU a 10-3 advantage, and they went on to win.

Brooks picked up the loss for the Shockers, allowing six hits and three runs in three innings pitched. 

The final game of the series will be played on Sunday at Wilkins Stadium. First pitch is set for noon.