Southeast Missouri State softball succumbs to walkoff winner at Southern Illinois

Southeast Missouri State second baseman Parker Bandy throws to first base for double play after forcing out Indiana State's Rebecca Gibbs, with backup by shortstop Sarah Messex, during the sixth inning in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the Southeast Softball Complex.

Fred Lynch

The Southeast Missouri State softball team couldn't quite close things out.

Tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, host Southern Illinois got a one-out RBI single from Sydney Brown for a 2-1 walkoff win Thursday evening in Carbondale, Illinois.

Haley Thogmartin (5-5) took the loss for SEMO (19-12), pitching 2 1/3 innings in relief and allowing one unearned run on three hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts.

Madeline Krumrey started in the pitcher's circle and allowed one run on two hits in four innings with four Ks and a walk. Alexis Estes and Rachel Rook also pitched for Southeast.

Brian Jones (16-2) was the winner for the Salukis (20-12), pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings in relief and allowing just two hits with six strikeouts.

SIU initially took a fourth-inning lead when Jenn Jansen stroked an RBI single, but the Redhawks responded in the top of the fifth with a Sarah Messex solo home run.

But after Thogmartin struck out the leadoff batter in the ninth, a single, a pair of passed balls and a pair of intentional walks set up the game-winning base hit.

Randi Dae Conway, Abby Tillotson, Claudia Gallo and Parker Bandy each had a hit for Southeast.

Jones paced the home side with a 2-for-5 performance.

The Salukis overcame four errors.

SEMO is back on the field today as it travels to Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.

-- From staff report