Salukis Open 2023 Season at FGCU Invitational

Carbondale, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University softball team kicks off the 2023 season this weekend at the Florida Gulf Coast University Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla. The Salukis will play a total of four games, with doubleheaders both on Friday (Feb. 10) and Saturday (Feb. 11).

After taking over midway through the 2022 season, Jen Sewell enters her 15th season with Southern Illinois and her first full season as head coach. In 2022, the Salukis finished the year leading the Valley in batting average (.290), runs scored (283), RBIs (256), and on-base percentage (.407) - which broke the program record and also marked the 10th highest on-base percentage in the country. SIU had the second-most home runs (42), slugging percentage (.429), and hits (382) in the MVC during the 2022 season as well. Defensively, the Salukis were strong with a .965 fielding percentage (third in the MVC) behind a very good season of pitching for the Salukis who had the third-lowest ERA (3.20) in the Valley as well.

SIU returns several key pieces from last season including All-MVC Preseason honorees Rylie Hamilton and Elizabeth Warwick. Along with Hamilton and Warwick, the Salukis are led by a senior class of three - Aubree DePron, Kerrigan Gamm, and Tori Schullian. Sophomore Emma Anthony and junior Bailey Caylor both return for the Salukis in the outfield as well.

Junior Madi Eberle leads a young group of pitchers as she comes off a sophomore season with over a 120 innings thrown. Eberle led SIU in 2022 with a 3.02 ERA.

Game 1 (2/10): Long Island University @ 1:30 p.m.

Southern will begin play Friday afternoon against Long Island University. SIU has won each of its last two season-openers as the Dawgs look to make it three in a row. The matchup will mark just the second meeting between the two programs as the Salukis hold a 1-0 series lead after defeating LIU 9-0 to improve to 4-2 in the 2016 season.

LIU, a member of the Northeast Conference, was 26-31 (13-11 NEC) during the 2022 season while finishing in fourth place in the NEC. The Sharks were voted in second place in the 2023 NEC Preseason Poll as they returned several key starters. LIU's 2022 season ended in the conference championship, where they've made five straight appearances. The Sharks are led by head coach Roy Kartmann who enters his 29th season at the helm.

Game 2 (2/10): Florida Gulf Coast University @ 6:30 p.m.

Game two of the Salukis' first doubleheader of the season will be played against host Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles currently lead the all-time series record against SIU at 3-1 as they've won the last three matchups (2018, 2016, 2013) with the Salukis winning the inaugural matchup in 2011.

FGCU was 18-33 a season ago, as they finished in fifth place of the East division in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Despite missing the ASUN Championship Tournament, the Eagles finished the season on a high note as they defeated instate foe and top-10 opponent Florida University 3-2 at the UF Tournament. David Deiros enters his 21st at FGCU as sole head coach in program history.

Game 3 (2/11): Binghamton University @ 1:30 p.m.

The Salukis will start day two against an unfamiliar opponent in Binghamton University as the two programs face off for the very first time. Binghamton was selected fourth in the America East Conference Preseason Poll, receiving one first place vote.

Jess Bump enters her second season as the head coach for the Bearcats. A season ago, Bump led Binghamton to a 22-23 record after spending the prior five seasons as the lead assistant. The Bearcats return seven of their nine starters from last season, including three all-conference players.

Game 4 (2/11): UNC Greensboro @ 6:30 p.m.

Southern will play its fourth and final game against UNC Greensboro, a top-75 team in the NCAA RPI standings in 2022. The two programs have faced off three times prior, with the Salukis leading the all-time series record at 2-1. Despite both teams having plenty of success over the past decade, the last time they faced off was 2008.

The Spartans were selected second in the SoCon Coaches Preseason Poll after winning the regular season championship in 2022 but fell short in the postseason tournament. UNC Greensboro last made the NCAA Tournament in 2021, similar to the Salukis. Janelle Breneman leads the Spartans for her 10th consecutive season as head coach.

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Players Mentioned

Emma Anthony

Bailey Caylor

Aubree DePron

Madi Eberle

Kerrigan Gamm

Rylie Hamilton

Tori Schullian

Elizabeth Warwick

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