Softball Brings In Five on Signing Day; Class of 2026 Ranked Top 50 in NCAA by D1Softball
11/13/2025 | 1:15:00 | Softball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University softball team has announced its 2026 recruiting class which consists of five players.
Southern Illinois has signed Tylen Edwards, Kymorie Myers, Gianni Torres, Sydnee Wagner, and Kaliyah Williams.
"This 2026 group is just another spectacular class joining us next fall and I have to say, I couldn't be happier with our Recruiting Coordinator Laurin Watts and her efforts to get these athletes recruited and signed," head coach Jen Sewell said. "The Saluki brand continues to draw players from all over the country, each are some of the best in their respective states and on their respective clubs. They fit us on every level – quality people from great families, highly versatile and so athletic and extremely intelligent both on and off the field."
On Tuesday, D1Softball.com released its first-ever signing class rankings, which listed SIU's Class of 2026 at No. 47. The Salukis were the only team from the Missouri Valley Conference to be ranked inside the top 50.
Edwards is a corner infielder/catcher from Owasso, Okla., who intends on majoring in sports photography at SIU. At Owasso High School, Edwards was a district, regional, and state champion who also received individual accolades that include All-Region First Baseman, All-District Catcher, and District Defensive Player of the Year.
"We are graduating some big hitters in the next couple of seasons and Tylen is here to fill one of those spots in the lineup," Sewell said. "But much like Kymorie, she also brings a big bat without giving up anything on the defensive side. We expect to see her in the middle of our lineup card but most of all, I can't wait to see her presence in the infield. She's such a great athlete and she's going to be a force to reckon with for opposing teams. Tylen comes from winning programs and an expectation of winning at everything she does so I'm excited to see her in a Saluki uniform next fall."
Myers comes to SIU as an outfielder from Auxvasse, Mo., and North Callaway High School. The lefty/lefty was a Class 3 All-State outfielder and ranked as the No. 1 overall outfielder in the class as a junior. Myers was a three-time All-Conference First Team member who has broken her school's single-season home run, RBI, and hits records. The Auxvasse, Mo., native plans on majoring in cyber security at Southern Illinois.
"Everyone that knows our offense knows we love to keep a few true lefties with big pop in our lineup and that's where Kymorie fits in for us," Sewell said. "And we aren't a defense that likes to hide hitters in the outfield so we need them to bring it on defense. That's where Kymorie will shine. We aren't giving up either side of the game when she gets into our lineup. Missouri has been good to us in previous recruiting years and we are so thrilled to have one of the best players and people joining us here at Southern."
Torres is a catcher from Cape Coral, Fla., who is a three-time district champion at Fort Myers High School. There, the catcher has been a Southwest Florida (SWFL) Player of the Year nominee, MVP, All-State and All-Area First Team member, and Gold Glove winner. When she arrives at Southern, Torres intends to study pre-med.
"I'm not supposed to have favorites but I just love seeing this kid come to Southern," Sewell said. "I'm partial to catchers because I think they are just the quiet workers on the field but Gianni is a blue-collar athlete who is just a grinder and as long as her team wins, she's going to put it on the line. And the coolest part of her joining us is that she has caught Kaliyah and that bond is already there as battery mates and teammates. It's neat to get them both and see them continue their softball journeys together."
Wagner heads to Carbondale by way of Grain Valley, Mo., and is an infielder. At Grain Valley High School, Wagner has been featured on All-State, All-Region, All-Conference, and All-District teams and is ranked No. 47 overall in the class by Line Drive Softball. Grain Valley set a school record in wins (33) in 2024 and has had back-to-back 30+ win seasons. At Southern Illinois, Wagner's plan is to major in animal science.
"I think outsiders are going to see Syd's rankings and her resume of awards but what I hope they recognize is what a great fit this kid is just all around – culturally, athletically, and mentality wise it's like Syd is just made to be a Saluki," Sewell said. "We have a long history of middle infield greats here at Southern and I'm looking forward to watching Syd get after it defensively and offensively. Fans are really going to enjoy her on the field. She's a great personality and a really dynamic athlete. She will be one to watch in 2026."
SIU's fifth signee, Williams, is a pitcher from Cape Coral, Fla. The right-handed pitcher is a three-year varsity starter at North Fort Myers High School with a career ERA of 2.67 and 316 strikeouts who also has a career batting average of .433. Williams was ranked as the No. 22 pitcher in the country by Line Drive Softball and No. 57 overall. An All-District, All-Conference, and All-Area selection, Williams is a two-time nominee for Female Athlete of the Year who intends on majoring in exercise science at Southern Illinois.
"Laurin and Kaliyah connected early in the recruiting process and I think they are a match made in heaven," Sewell said. "Kaliyah has all the pitches and can command both sides of the plate. What I love about her is can she get strikeouts? Yes. But she's not obsessed with them. She can pitch into our defense as well and keep the game moving and her pitch count down keeping her in the game for longer. Kaliyah comes from one of the top clubs in the country and her pitching coach – Aleshia Ocasio – has prepared her unbelievably well to pitch at this level."
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