Preview | Softball Welcomes Wisconsin, Northern Illinois for Saluki Invitational
03/07/2025 | 1:30:00 | Softball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The final non-conference tournament takes place this weekend for Southern Illinois softball (5-13, 0-0) as they host the 2025 Saluki Invitational. Between Saturday and Sunday, SIU will welcome Wisconsin (13-7, 0-0) and Northern Illinois (5-8, 0-0) to Charlotte West Stadium.
Details
-What: Saluki Invitational
-Date: Saturday, March 8-Sunday, March 9
-Location: Charlotte West Stadium, Carbondale, Illinois
-Opponents: Wisconsin (twice) | Northern Illinois (twice)
-Live Results: Wisconsin (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.) | Northern Illinois (Saturday, 4 p.m.) | Wisconsin (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.) | Northern Illinois (4 p.m.)
-Listen: The Varsity Network
Last Time Out
Softball was last in action this past weekend when they hosted Central Arkansas, Purdue, and Purdue Fort Wayne for the 2025 Coach B Classic. In their first set of games at home this year, the Salukis went 4-1, only dropping a game to Central Arkansas.
SIU opened the Classic on Friday with a 2-0 win over Central Arkansas. Anna Carder had the biggest hit of the game, powering a two-run homer over the outfield wall in the first inning to score SIU's only runs in the game. Maleah Blomenkamp was the only other Southern hitter to have a hit. In the circle, McKenzie Newcomb and Emma Gipson combined for a shutout.
Central Arkansas and the Salukis squared off again on Saturday. This time, Central Arkansas came out on top, winning 10-7 in extra innings. Jackie Lis and Alexis Rudd both hit home runs while Erin Lee and Sarah Cook added RBIs as well. Pitching-wise, Kiana McDowell totaled 2.1 innings and gave up just one earned run while doing it.
Saturday night's game versus Purdue went to extras as well, but this time SIU came out on top, 5-4. Carder came up big again for Southern, hitting a two-RBI double; Blomenkamp and Lis drove in runs too. SIU walked off the game thanks to Amanda Knutson reaching on a throwing error in the eighth that allowed McDowell to score. Southern also saw an incredible effort out of Newcomb, who threw 155 pitches across eight innings to earn the win.
The Salukis and Boilermakers met again on Sunday, with SIU once again walking off Purdue in eight innings, 6-5. Emma Austin was the hero for Southern, driving in the game-tying and game-winning run with a single while the Salukis were down to their final out. Austin totaled three RBIs in the game and Knutson had two, including a solo homer in the fourth. Newcomb was once again a work horse for Southern, allowing one earned run across 5.2 innings of work.
The Coach B Classic ended Sunday night with a bang for SIU, who run-ruled Purdue Fort Wayne, 16-4. Lis went 3-4 at the plate to drive in five runs. She also hit her 39th career home run, which tied the record for most career home runs by a Saluki softball player. Lee had a big game at the plate too, going 3-4 while collecting four RBIs. Carder, Knutson, Mikaela Coburn, Addi Baker, and Avery Hixson all had RBIs as well. In the circle, Kaytee Dahlstrom picked up her first collegiate winning after allowing two runs in 3.1 innings of work.
The Series and the Matchups
SIU and Wisconsin have met three times in the past. All-time, Wisconsin leads the series 2-1. The two squads last met at the 2013 Saluki Invitational when Wisconsin won 7-3. The Salukis' only win versus the Badgers came in 2009 in 3-0 fashion.
As for Southern and Northern Illinois, the teams have split their 40 all-time matchups. They faced off last season at the Hilltopper Spring Fling; SIU won that game 12-3. Northern Illinois' last win against SIU came in 2017 when they downed the Salukis 9-3. Since then, Southern has won four straight.
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.
Details
-What: Saluki Invitational
-Date: Saturday, March 8-Sunday, March 9
-Location: Charlotte West Stadium, Carbondale, Illinois
-Opponents: Wisconsin (twice) | Northern Illinois (twice)
-Live Results: Wisconsin (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.) | Northern Illinois (Saturday, 4 p.m.) | Wisconsin (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.) | Northern Illinois (4 p.m.)
-Listen: The Varsity Network
Last Time Out
Softball was last in action this past weekend when they hosted Central Arkansas, Purdue, and Purdue Fort Wayne for the 2025 Coach B Classic. In their first set of games at home this year, the Salukis went 4-1, only dropping a game to Central Arkansas.
SIU opened the Classic on Friday with a 2-0 win over Central Arkansas. Anna Carder had the biggest hit of the game, powering a two-run homer over the outfield wall in the first inning to score SIU's only runs in the game. Maleah Blomenkamp was the only other Southern hitter to have a hit. In the circle, McKenzie Newcomb and Emma Gipson combined for a shutout.
Central Arkansas and the Salukis squared off again on Saturday. This time, Central Arkansas came out on top, winning 10-7 in extra innings. Jackie Lis and Alexis Rudd both hit home runs while Erin Lee and Sarah Cook added RBIs as well. Pitching-wise, Kiana McDowell totaled 2.1 innings and gave up just one earned run while doing it.
Saturday night's game versus Purdue went to extras as well, but this time SIU came out on top, 5-4. Carder came up big again for Southern, hitting a two-RBI double; Blomenkamp and Lis drove in runs too. SIU walked off the game thanks to Amanda Knutson reaching on a throwing error in the eighth that allowed McDowell to score. Southern also saw an incredible effort out of Newcomb, who threw 155 pitches across eight innings to earn the win.
The Salukis and Boilermakers met again on Sunday, with SIU once again walking off Purdue in eight innings, 6-5. Emma Austin was the hero for Southern, driving in the game-tying and game-winning run with a single while the Salukis were down to their final out. Austin totaled three RBIs in the game and Knutson had two, including a solo homer in the fourth. Newcomb was once again a work horse for Southern, allowing one earned run across 5.2 innings of work.
The Coach B Classic ended Sunday night with a bang for SIU, who run-ruled Purdue Fort Wayne, 16-4. Lis went 3-4 at the plate to drive in five runs. She also hit her 39th career home run, which tied the record for most career home runs by a Saluki softball player. Lee had a big game at the plate too, going 3-4 while collecting four RBIs. Carder, Knutson, Mikaela Coburn, Addi Baker, and Avery Hixson all had RBIs as well. In the circle, Kaytee Dahlstrom picked up her first collegiate winning after allowing two runs in 3.1 innings of work.
The Series and the Matchups
SIU and Wisconsin have met three times in the past. All-time, Wisconsin leads the series 2-1. The two squads last met at the 2013 Saluki Invitational when Wisconsin won 7-3. The Salukis' only win versus the Badgers came in 2009 in 3-0 fashion.
As for Southern and Northern Illinois, the teams have split their 40 all-time matchups. They faced off last season at the Hilltopper Spring Fling; SIU won that game 12-3. Northern Illinois' last win against SIU came in 2017 when they downed the Salukis 9-3. Since then, Southern has won four straight.
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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