Softball heads to 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
05/11/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 11, 2010
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Softball team is gearing up for the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament this week in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Salukis (36-18, 20-5) enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed, after winning their first regular-season title since 2005. Earning the top-spot gives SIU a double-bye past the first two rounds of play. A new modified bracket allows the top-two teams a chance to work their way back into the championship game, should they lose their first game.
SIU will face Missouri State, Evansville or Northern Iowa in their first game, depending on the outcome of Saturday's games. The Salukis are 7-1 against those opponents this season, with their only loss being to Evansville.
Southern Illinois is looking for the first conference tournament championship since 1991, when it was a member of the Gateway Conference. Head Coach Kerri Blaylock was in her first season as an assistant in 1991, as she helped Kay Brechtelsbauer coach the Salukis to their only conference tournament championship in school history.
SIU will play their first game, Friday at 11 a.m. Click here for complete game notes.