Allie Waldron delivered a walk-off RBI single in the top of the ninth inning to lift Murray State to a thrilling 6-5 victory over Southern Illinois on Thursday at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale. Waldron, who had already homered twice in the game, capped a remarkable individual performance by plating Kynadee Warner with the go-ahead run after Warner had reached on a leadoff single and advanced to third on a Parker Holcombe groundout. The win extends Murray State's winning streak to nine consecutive games and sends the Racers to the winners' bracket final.

Waldron was the undisputed star of the contest, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI. She launched a solo shot to left field in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1, then crushed a three-run blast to left center in the third to put Murray State ahead 4-2. Ava Ozment also provided a lift off the bench, pinch-hitting in the fourth and immediately depositing a solo home run to left to extend the Racers' lead to 5-2. Murray State built the lead before Southern Illinois stormed back in the seventh, when Sydney Potter hit a two-run homer down the left field line to tie the game at 5-5 and set the stage for the dramatic ninth.

Karlye Graber earned the win in relief, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while striking out two to improve to 10-5. Graber came on in the seventh with the game tied and slammed the door on the Salukis the rest of the way. For Southern Illinois, Emily Delgado absorbed the loss despite a strong outing — she allowed just one earned run over five innings — but Amanda Knutson and Potter each homered for the Salukis, who finished with nine hits.

Southern Illinois falls to 33-16 on the season and will return to action Friday at 3 p.m. CT in an elimination game against either UNI or Illinois State. Murray State, riding a nine-game winning streak, advances to face top-seeded and regular-season champion Belmont in the first game of the day Friday at noon CT.