Preview | Saluki Softball Ready for Home Debut at Coach B Classic

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Sep 14

1 PM

Softball

Missouri S&T

Sep 21

1 PM

Softball

Jefferson College

Sep 27

1 PM

Softball

St. Charles CC

Oct 5

1 PM

Softball

Parkland College

Oct 5

3 PM

Softball

Illinois Central College

Carbondale, Ill. - Southern Illinois makes its 2024 home debut this weekend, hosting the Coach B Classic. The Salukis will welcome Loyola Chicago and Green Bay to Carbondale for a pair of doubleheaders beginning on Saturday and Sunday. Loyola and Green Bay will kickoff each day against each other beginning at 11 AM with the Salukis playing at 1:30 PM and 4 PM both days.

Saturday, March 9

Loyola @ Green Bay 11 AM
Loyola @ SIU 1:30 PM
Green Bay @ SIU 4 PM

Sunday, March 10

Green Bay @ Loyola 11 AM
Green Bay @ SIU 1:30 PM
Loyola @ SIU 4 PM

The Salukis are coming off a 4-0 weekend at the Hilltopper Spring Fling where they outscored their opponents 34-6 including three-straight run rule victories to open the weekend. As a team, Southern totaled a .380 batting average with 35 hits including seven doubles and four home runs.

Sophomore Anna Carder led the team with a .714 batting average, a double, home run, and three RBIs as she was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week for the first time in her career.

Through the first four weeks of the season, the Salukis rank amongst the top of the Valley with a 2.67 team ERA. Southern and Indiana State both sit with 11 wins but the Salukis hold the best winning percentage with just four losses. Upon the NCAA's first release of the 2024 RPI rankings, the Salukis are currently the highest-ranked team in the Valley at No. 40 in the country.

Looking ahead, Southern Illinois will look to carry the momentum into another weekend schedule with four games before the Salukis begin conference play.

Southern Illinois and former Valley opponent Loyola have had 26 previous meetings with the Salukis holding a 21-5 all-time series record and currently an eight-game win streak against the Ramblers. A season ago, Loyola came to Carbondale for the Saluki Invitational and fell 6-2 to the Dawgs.

Green Bay and SIU also met in 2023 at the Middle Tennessee State Softball Invitational with Southern winning 9-0 (5). Last year's meeting was the first ever between the two programs as SIU will look to remain unbeaten against the Phoenix this weekend.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Softball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoftball and on Instagram at @SIU_Softball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.

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