CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Wichita State offense could not find timely hits, as they dropped two games to Southern Illinois on Sunday, by scores of 3-2 and 5-4.
 
Katie Malone started game one, and threw 3.1 innings allowing three runs on four hits to receive her 10^th loss of the year. Jenni Brooks threw the final 2.2 innings and allowed only one hit.
 
In the second inning, Merri Ann Patterson broke open the scoring with a solo home run to right-center.
 
In the fourth inning, Patterson hit her second home run of the day to make the score 2-0. The Salukis added another run in the inning to make the score 3-0.
 
Macklin Hitz led off the seventh inning with a single and was later scored on a two-out two-run home run from Laurie Derrico to cut the lead to one, 3-2. The Shockers then got another runner on but were unable to tie the game, falling in game one, 3-2.
 
Jenni Brooks then started in game two, throwing six innings and allowing five runs, with only two of those being earned.
 
Southern Illinois scored first again in game two, scoring one run in the first inning after back-to-back hits were moved up on a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly scored Brandenburg from third.
 
In the second inning, Sydney Jones hit a solo home run to right field to extend SIU's lead to 2-0.
 
In the fifth inning, the Shockers tied the game at two after Wright doubled and moved to second on a bunt from Spring who reached on an error by the pitcher. McKenzie Adams then singled and advanced to second to score two runs.
 
The bottom of the sixth started with an error by the Shockers. After a sacrifice bunt and a dropped foul ball, Patterson reached on a walk. Shaye Harre then hit a home run off the scoreboard in right field to give SIU a 5-2 lead.
 
Wright then led off the top of the seventh with a home run to left center to cut the lead to 5-3. Hitz then hit a two-out double and was pinch-ran for by Kennedy Long. Derrico then singled to score long and cut the lead to one, but the Shockers could not find a way to tie the game, falling in game two, 5-4.
 
The Shockers are now 27-17 on the year and 12-7 in MVC play. Wichita State will travel to Missouri State on Tuesday to finish the series with the Bears at 5 p.m.