Southern Illinoise University Athletics
No. 19/22 Softball heads to NFCA Leadoff Classic
02/26/2009 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 26, 2009
By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The No. 19/22 Saluki softball team (11-0) travels to Columbus, Ga. for the 14th annual NFCA Leadoff Classic this weekend, Feb. 27-March 1.
The Leadoff Classic, hosted by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, has established itself as one of the most prestigious tournaments, with seven of its 13 champions advancing to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series.
The tournament's field includes 21 teams, 15 of which advanced to last year's NCAA tournament and three that made it to the Women's College World Series.
This will be SIU's fourth time competing in the tournament after previously playing in 1999, 2006 and 2007.
Southern Illinois will begin play on Friday against No. 1/3 Alabama at 1:30 ET and take on sixth-ranked Michigan at 6:30 p.m. ET.
It will be the first time SIU has gone up against the nation's No. 1 team since taking on California on Feb. 18, 2005.
On Saturday the Salukis will square off against Virginia Tech and No. 17/22 Massachusetts at 11 a.m. ET and 6:30 p.m., and conclude the tournament on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET against Long Island.
SIU holds a 7-7 combined all-time record against Alabama, Michigan and UMass and will face Virginia Tech and Long Island for the first time in the program's history.
Live GameTracker will be available for all five of Southern Illinois' games, and Chris Hagstrom will call each game's play-by-play through Saluki All-Access.
To access GameTracker visit the SIU softball Web page at www.SIUSalukis.com and to purchase a Saluki All-Access pass visit the link below.
