Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball releases complete 2009 schedule
12/03/2008 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Dec. 3, 2008
By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois head softball coach Kerri Blaylock announced the complete schedule for the up coming 2009 season on Wednesday.
Blaylock, who enters her 10th season as head coach, has orchestrated a competitive schedule set up to bring the Salukis back to the NCAA regional's for the sixth time in the last seven years.
SIU's non-conference schedule features 10 NCAA Regional participants, four Super Regional entrants, and two that advanced to the Women's College World Series last year in 2008.
"I always tell our recruits that we're going to go out and play the best competition at top tournaments," said Blaylock. "Playing the best makes us better and gets us ready for our conference season."
Southern Illinois will open the season against Long Beach on Feb. 6 at 12:30 p.m. PT at the Cathedral City Kickoff in Palm Springs, Calif.
"We start right off in California against tough competition, but we wanted to challenge ourselves right away," said Blaylock.
Also on the schedule at the season-opening tournament will be PAC-10 member Oregon State, UC-Davis, UC-Riverside and Cal State-Northridge.
SIU will continue early-season tournament play at Samford's Bulldog Bash (Feb. 13-15) in Birmingham, Ala., and the Elon University tournament (Feb. 21-22) in Elon, N.C., before traveling to the NFCA Leadoff Classic (Feb. 27-March1) in Columbus, Ga.
The Salukis will face 2008 NCAA WCWS participants Alabama and Virginia Tech, as well as Michigan, Massachusetts and Long Island at the Leadoff Classic.
"The opening day of the Leadoff (Classic) against Alabama and Michigan will probably be the toughest single-day we've every had since I've been at SIU," said Blaylock. "It's a great tournament though and a privilege to be invited."
SIU will also host its annual Coach B Southern Classic (March 7-8) against Big 10 member Wisconsin, Western Illinois and SIU-Edwardsville at Charlotte West Stadium.
Southern Illinois will open its home portion of the schedule against SEMO on March 4 at 2 p.m. and start conference play with a doubleheader on the road at Evansville March 11 at 3 p.m.
The conference season will conclude at the 2009 State Farm MVC Tournament hosted by Bradley in Peoria, Ill May 7-9.
"It will be another competitive conference season, but we will be ready with our non-conference play," said Blaylock. "We just have to bump people off and take care of business along the way."
