Tampa, Fla. -- Rachel Carlson notched her sixth multiple hit performance with a 3-for-4 day but it wouldn't be enough as the University of Maine softball team dropped a 6-2 decision to Southern Illinois on Sunday afternoon.

Erika Leonard added a pair of singles, an RBI and scored a run in the loss as the Black Bears (4-11) able to string together eight total hits. Annie Kennedy fell to 2-2 on the season after earning the start and going 4.0 innings while giving up three runs, one earned, on three hits with a strikeout. Keleigh O'Donnell struck out three while giving up three runs on four hits in 3.0 innings of relief.

The Black Bears jumped out to a 1-0 advantage when Maddie Decker's RBI single scored Leonard.

Southern Illinois (13-9) took a 2-1 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second.

Maine answered, tying the game with a single run in the home half of the second. With two outs, Shanna Scribner's ground-rule double ignited a short rally before Leonard's RBI single plated Scribner with Maine's second run of the day.

However, the Saluki's regained the lead with a single run in the third.

The Black Bears threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with two outs but were unable to plate a run.

Southern Illinois added three runs in the top of the sixth and kept Maine off the scoreboard the rest of the way to seal a 6-2 victory.

Maine is back on the diamond on Tuesday, March 13 when meet Iona for a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m.

-UMaine-