Friday, February 28
Carbondale, Ill.
4 PM
Southern Illinois University
2-12
2
vs
0
Central Arkansas
5-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Central Arkansas
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
Southern Illinois
2
0
0
0
0
0
X
2
3
1
Recap | Softball Blanks Central Arkansas to Win Home Opener, 2-0
02/28/2025 | 7:18:00 | Softball
CARBONDALE, Ill. -Â The Southern Illinois University softball team (2-12, 0-0)Â earned the win on Friday over Central Arkansas, 2-0, in its first game of the Coach B. Classic.
"It's been a long three weeks, so we just talked about trying to do the basics well and I thought we did that tonight," head coach Jen Sewell said. "Offensively, that kid [Bears pitcher Julia Petty] has held some big time teams. I thought her ERA was a little bit inflated, but she's good, was good tonight, and was good against us. I thought it'd come down to who smacked the ball out of the park, and Anna Carder's been that hot."
Â
Inside the Box Score
The Salukis scored two runs on three hits and one error in the win. Carder led the team offensively, going 2-2 with one walk, a home run, and two RBI.Â
On the mound, McKenzie Newcomb was brilliant again for SIU. The transfer from Samford got the win (2-5) after tossing 5.0 innings with four hits, no runs, one walk, and 10 strikeouts.
How It Happened
SIU struck first in the bottom of the first. With the lead-off hitter, Maleah Blomenkamp, on first base, Anna Carder launched a ball over the left field wall to drive in two and give Southern a 2-0 lead.
After Emma Gipson tossed a scoreless 2.0 innings, McKenzie Newcomb came in during the top of the third, and was dominant the rest of the way.
The biggest danger the Salukis faced came in the seventh inning. With two outs, Central Arkansas loaded the bases, but Newcomb struck out left fielder Renee Christian for her 10th strikeout of the game to secure the win.
"That's who [Newcomb] we recruited," Sewell said. "She had to get off to a slow start for a reason. There was no reason to drive her pitch count up in February, so she's finally getting on top of her pitches where she feels good command with everything."
Â
Up NextÂ
Southern Illinois will be back in action on day two of the Coach B. Classic when it hosts Central Arkansas at 4 p.m. and Purdue at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
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.
"It's been a long three weeks, so we just talked about trying to do the basics well and I thought we did that tonight," head coach Jen Sewell said. "Offensively, that kid [Bears pitcher Julia Petty] has held some big time teams. I thought her ERA was a little bit inflated, but she's good, was good tonight, and was good against us. I thought it'd come down to who smacked the ball out of the park, and Anna Carder's been that hot."
Â
Inside the Box Score
The Salukis scored two runs on three hits and one error in the win. Carder led the team offensively, going 2-2 with one walk, a home run, and two RBI.Â
On the mound, McKenzie Newcomb was brilliant again for SIU. The transfer from Samford got the win (2-5) after tossing 5.0 innings with four hits, no runs, one walk, and 10 strikeouts.
How It Happened
SIU struck first in the bottom of the first. With the lead-off hitter, Maleah Blomenkamp, on first base, Anna Carder launched a ball over the left field wall to drive in two and give Southern a 2-0 lead.
After Emma Gipson tossed a scoreless 2.0 innings, McKenzie Newcomb came in during the top of the third, and was dominant the rest of the way.
The biggest danger the Salukis faced came in the seventh inning. With two outs, Central Arkansas loaded the bases, but Newcomb struck out left fielder Renee Christian for her 10th strikeout of the game to secure the win.
"That's who [Newcomb] we recruited," Sewell said. "She had to get off to a slow start for a reason. There was no reason to drive her pitch count up in February, so she's finally getting on top of her pitches where she feels good command with everything."
Â
Up NextÂ
Southern Illinois will be back in action on day two of the Coach B. Classic when it hosts Central Arkansas at 4 p.m. and Purdue at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Newcomb, McKenzie (2-5)
L: Julia Petty (3-4)
Batting:
2B: Lilly Hood 1
SH: Mya January 1
Batting:
HR: Carder, Anna 1
RBI: Carder, Anna 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Blomenkamp, Maleah 1 ; Carder, Anna 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
0
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSaluki Basketball Radio Broadcast - at Richmond
Sunday, December 14
SIU tops UT Martin, 83-54 - Highlights
Friday, December 12
12.11.25 | Saluki Radio Basketball Podcast - at Richmond
Friday, December 12
12.12.25 | Saluki Radio One on One With Nick Hill - 2025 Season Recap
Thursday, December 11