News | This Week in Saluki Athletics: March 17-23
03/17/2025 | 12:46:00 | General
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Spring Break is officially over at Southern Illinois, and Saluki athletics are just as busy as ever. Last week, softball opened Missouri Valley Conference play while women's basketball's season ended. And this week, baseball begins their journey through the MVC.
Women's Basketball (4-26, 2-18)
Women's basketball's season came to an end on Thursday in the first round of the Credit Union 1 MVC Tournament. The Salukis lost to No. 5 Illinois State 88-48.
However, before the game, Gift Uchenna was honored by the MVC, being named to the All-MVC Third Team and All-Newcomer Team. Across the regular season, Uchenna averaged 14.4 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.8 offensive rebounds, and 2.1 blocks-per-game. The rebounding average and season total of 369 rebounds are both single-season program records, while the junior's 62 total blocks are the fourth-most all-time for SIU women's basketball. Uchenna led the Valley in rebounding, offensive rebounding, and double-doubles (20), and also ranked second in blocks. In the NCAA, the junior ranked second in rebounding, third in offensive rebounding, third in double-doubles, and 22nd in blocks-per-game.
As for SIU's playoff loss to Illinois State, Uchenna was the only Saluki to hit double-digit points, putting up a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double. Tkiyah Nelson had a nice day distributing, dishing out three assists.
SIU finishes the 2024-25 women's basketball season with a final record of 4-26 overall and 2-18 in conference play.
Track and Field
The outdoor season begins this week for track and field. The squad will travel to Oxford, Mississippi, on Saturday, March 22, for the Ole Miss Classic.
Softball (11-14, 3-0)
Conference play started this past weekend for SIU softball, and the team got off to a nice start in Valley play by sweeping Illinois State in a three-game series.
The series began on Friday with a 1-0 win for the Salukis. Emily Williams drove in the only run of the game, and Emma Austin had two hits at the plate. Emma Gipson and McKenzie Newcomb combined for the shutout, allowing just three hits over seven innings while striking out seven Illinois State batters.
Southern won again on Saturday, 3-0. RBIs came courtesy of Williams, Erin Lee, and Addi Baker. Meanwhile, pitchers Kiana McDowell and Newcomb added another combined shutout to SIU's resume, with the duo allowing six combined hits.
Sunday saw one more Saluki win as the offense came alive to beat the Redbirds 8-4. Williams had another good game at the plate, plating three runs while also hitting a homerun. Maleah Blomenkamp and Anna Carder had multi-RBI games as well and Newcomb picked up her third win in as many days, pitching the final two innings of the game while striking out five of the seven batters she faced.
It is a busy week ahead for softball. They host their first midweek series of the season when Missouri State visits on Tuesday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 19, at 5 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively. The Salukis then travel to Valparaiso this weekend for a three-game series. On Friday, March 21, they will play at 3 p.m. Then, on Saturday, March 22, first pitch is set for 2 p.m. The series then ends on Sunday with a 12 p.m. game.
Baseball (12-6, 0-0)
Baseball's week started with a weekly honor, as Kristian Sprawling was named the MVC Player of the Week. Last weekend, Sprawling batted .750 while posting a 1.125 slugging percentage and .818 on-base percentage. He finished the weekend with six RBIs.
Then, baseball suffered three losses this past week, but also managed to pick up one win.
First was a 21-2, run-rule loss at Western Kentucky on Tuesday. John Lemm added another homerun to his season total, and Cecil Lofton collected the other RBI for SIU.
Southern then hosted Morehead State on Friday at Mtn Dew Park in Marion where the Salukis fell 18-12. Southern homers came from Jordan Bach, Mason Schwalbach, and Gabe Petrucelli. Lemm and Jaxon Holder both had two RBIs apiece.
Saturday saw SIU run rule Morehead State 14-4 in eight innings. Michael Mylott and Kaleb Hall launched homeruns for the Salukis, and Tim Simay joined those two in having a multi-RBI game. On the mound, Alec Nigut added another solid start to his season resume, allowing one earned run across 5.1 innings of work while striking out seven.
The Morehead State series ended on Sunday with a 6-4 win by Morehead State. Lemm hit another homerun, and Hall was the only other Saluki to grab an RBI. Sam Frizzi was good pitching out of the bullpen, allowing one run over 2.2 innings pitched.
SIU welcomes Western Illinois to Carbondale on Tuesday, March 18, for a 6 p.m. game in what is also Military Appreciation Night. Conference play then begins on Friday, 6 p.m., with a series against UIC. The two will play at 6 p.m. on Friday for 90s Night before facing off on Saturday, March 22, at 2 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday, March 23, with a 1 p.m. game.
Swim and Dive
The Women's NCAA Championships begin this week in Federal Way, Washington. The Salukis will be sending Celia Pulido and Olivia Herron to the four-day event, which takes place Wednesday, March 19-Saturday, March 22.
Women's Golf
The women's golf team participated in the Clover Cup last week, hosted by Notre Dame in Litchfield Park, Arizona. SIU came in 12th place out of the 12 teams competing.
Kayla Sayyalinh was SIU's top finisher, tying for 27th with her score of 220 (+10). Pihla Pennanen was not too far behind her teammate, tying for 35th place with a score of 224 (+14).
Women's golf gets some time off now before traveling to the Coach Mo Classic in St. John's, Florida, which is hosted by Furman. The Classic will begin on March 31 and run through April 1.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X at @SIUSalukis, on Instagram at @siusalukis, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SalukiAthletics/. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Women's Basketball (4-26, 2-18)
Women's basketball's season came to an end on Thursday in the first round of the Credit Union 1 MVC Tournament. The Salukis lost to No. 5 Illinois State 88-48.
However, before the game, Gift Uchenna was honored by the MVC, being named to the All-MVC Third Team and All-Newcomer Team. Across the regular season, Uchenna averaged 14.4 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.8 offensive rebounds, and 2.1 blocks-per-game. The rebounding average and season total of 369 rebounds are both single-season program records, while the junior's 62 total blocks are the fourth-most all-time for SIU women's basketball. Uchenna led the Valley in rebounding, offensive rebounding, and double-doubles (20), and also ranked second in blocks. In the NCAA, the junior ranked second in rebounding, third in offensive rebounding, third in double-doubles, and 22nd in blocks-per-game.
As for SIU's playoff loss to Illinois State, Uchenna was the only Saluki to hit double-digit points, putting up a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double. Tkiyah Nelson had a nice day distributing, dishing out three assists.
SIU finishes the 2024-25 women's basketball season with a final record of 4-26 overall and 2-18 in conference play.
Track and Field
The outdoor season begins this week for track and field. The squad will travel to Oxford, Mississippi, on Saturday, March 22, for the Ole Miss Classic.
Softball (11-14, 3-0)
Conference play started this past weekend for SIU softball, and the team got off to a nice start in Valley play by sweeping Illinois State in a three-game series.
The series began on Friday with a 1-0 win for the Salukis. Emily Williams drove in the only run of the game, and Emma Austin had two hits at the plate. Emma Gipson and McKenzie Newcomb combined for the shutout, allowing just three hits over seven innings while striking out seven Illinois State batters.
Southern won again on Saturday, 3-0. RBIs came courtesy of Williams, Erin Lee, and Addi Baker. Meanwhile, pitchers Kiana McDowell and Newcomb added another combined shutout to SIU's resume, with the duo allowing six combined hits.
Sunday saw one more Saluki win as the offense came alive to beat the Redbirds 8-4. Williams had another good game at the plate, plating three runs while also hitting a homerun. Maleah Blomenkamp and Anna Carder had multi-RBI games as well and Newcomb picked up her third win in as many days, pitching the final two innings of the game while striking out five of the seven batters she faced.
It is a busy week ahead for softball. They host their first midweek series of the season when Missouri State visits on Tuesday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 19, at 5 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively. The Salukis then travel to Valparaiso this weekend for a three-game series. On Friday, March 21, they will play at 3 p.m. Then, on Saturday, March 22, first pitch is set for 2 p.m. The series then ends on Sunday with a 12 p.m. game.
Baseball (12-6, 0-0)
Baseball's week started with a weekly honor, as Kristian Sprawling was named the MVC Player of the Week. Last weekend, Sprawling batted .750 while posting a 1.125 slugging percentage and .818 on-base percentage. He finished the weekend with six RBIs.
Then, baseball suffered three losses this past week, but also managed to pick up one win.
First was a 21-2, run-rule loss at Western Kentucky on Tuesday. John Lemm added another homerun to his season total, and Cecil Lofton collected the other RBI for SIU.
Southern then hosted Morehead State on Friday at Mtn Dew Park in Marion where the Salukis fell 18-12. Southern homers came from Jordan Bach, Mason Schwalbach, and Gabe Petrucelli. Lemm and Jaxon Holder both had two RBIs apiece.
Saturday saw SIU run rule Morehead State 14-4 in eight innings. Michael Mylott and Kaleb Hall launched homeruns for the Salukis, and Tim Simay joined those two in having a multi-RBI game. On the mound, Alec Nigut added another solid start to his season resume, allowing one earned run across 5.1 innings of work while striking out seven.
The Morehead State series ended on Sunday with a 6-4 win by Morehead State. Lemm hit another homerun, and Hall was the only other Saluki to grab an RBI. Sam Frizzi was good pitching out of the bullpen, allowing one run over 2.2 innings pitched.
SIU welcomes Western Illinois to Carbondale on Tuesday, March 18, for a 6 p.m. game in what is also Military Appreciation Night. Conference play then begins on Friday, 6 p.m., with a series against UIC. The two will play at 6 p.m. on Friday for 90s Night before facing off on Saturday, March 22, at 2 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday, March 23, with a 1 p.m. game.
Swim and Dive
The Women's NCAA Championships begin this week in Federal Way, Washington. The Salukis will be sending Celia Pulido and Olivia Herron to the four-day event, which takes place Wednesday, March 19-Saturday, March 22.
Women's Golf
The women's golf team participated in the Clover Cup last week, hosted by Notre Dame in Litchfield Park, Arizona. SIU came in 12th place out of the 12 teams competing.
Kayla Sayyalinh was SIU's top finisher, tying for 27th with her score of 220 (+10). Pihla Pennanen was not too far behind her teammate, tying for 35th place with a score of 224 (+14).
Women's golf gets some time off now before traveling to the Coach Mo Classic in St. John's, Florida, which is hosted by Furman. The Classic will begin on March 31 and run through April 1.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X at @SIUSalukis, on Instagram at @siusalukis, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SalukiAthletics/. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
1B/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Baseball
P
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
OF/INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
P/INF
/ Softball
OF/INF
/ Baseball
G
/ Women's Basketball
P
/ Softball
LHP
/ Baseball
/ Women's Golf
INF
/ Baseball
Back/Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Women's Golf
C/INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
F
/ Women's Basketball
INF/C
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