Thursday, May 8
Des Moines, IA
11:30 AM
Southern Illinois University
vs
Drake
Preview | No. 1 Seeded Softball Looks for Third Straight MVC Championship
05/06/2025 | 5:27:00 | Softball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – It is time for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament for Southern Illinois softball (31-19, 21-5). The MVC regular season champions will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, for their first game on Thursday, May 8, looking to win their third straight MVC Championship.
Details
-What: MVC Tournament
-Date: May 8-10
-Location: Buel Field, Des Moines, Iowa
-Opponents: No. 8 Drake
-Live Results: Thursday (11:30 a.m.) | Friday (1 p.m.) | Saturday (1 p.m.)
-Watch: Thursday (10 a.m.) | Friday (1 p.m.) | Saturday (1 p.m.)
-Listen: The Varsity Network
Last Time Out
The Salukis traveled to Evansville last weekend for their final regular season series.
Game one on Friday ended with an 11-0 run-rule win for SIU. Sage Grann led the way offensively with three hits and three RBIs. Emma Austin had a three-hit day too; the senior also snagged her 64th career stolen base, breaking the SIU softball record for career stolen bases. In the circle, Emma Gipson and McKenzie Newcomb combined for the six-inning shutout.
On Saturday, Evansville evened up the series with a 2-0 win. Six Salukis collected hits while Newcomb did the bulk of work pitching, allowing just one earned run over five innings of work.
Southern clinched the series win on Sunday with an 11-1 win. Anna Carder led the team with three RBIs, but close behind her was Jackie Lis and Emily Williams with two each. Williams' RBIs came courtesy of a two-run home run. Newcomb earned her 19th win of the season after throwing 3.2 innings of shutout ball.
With the win, SIU secured their second straight MVC Regular Season Championship, marking the first time softball has won back-to-back regular season title since 2004-05.
Weekly Honors
Following the Evansville series, a pair of Salukis were honored with weekly awards from the MVC. Austin was awarded her second MVC Player of the Week, while Williams was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week for the fifth time this season.
At Evansville, Austin hit for a batting average of .583, going 7-for-12 against the Purple Aces. The senior outfielder scored six runs, had one triple, and went a perfect 4-for-4 on stolen bases.
In Friday's game, Austin broke the career stolen base record with her 64th steal as a Saluki.
Williams had a batting average of .500 with one home run and four RBIs against Evansville. The sophomore also had an on-base percentage of .545 and slugging percentage of .800.
On Sunday, Williams hit her 16th home run of the season, which is tied for the second-most in a single-season in program history with Lis' 2024 campaign.
End of Season Honors
Earlier today, the MVC announced its end of the year award winners, and several Salukis earned themselves postseason honors.
Six Salukis landed on the First Team All-Conference team: Lis, Carder, Austin, Newcomb, Williams, and Mikaela Coburn. Southern's six All-MVC members tied the program record for the most in season, which was originally set in 2005. Additionally, Addi Baker landed on the Second Team All-Conference Team.
As for specialty awards, SIU received three.
Carder was named the Defensive Player of the Year while also earning a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Carder, the team's primary backstop, is the third Saluki to earn the title of Defensive Player of the Year, joining catcher Katelyn Massa from 2019 and second baseman Maddy Vermejan from 2018.
Meanwhile, Williams was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year, marking the first time a SIU player has captured this title. The sophomore transfer from Morehead State finished the regular season as The Valley's runner-up in home runs with 16 and led the MVC with her 51 RBIs.
Finally, Southern's coaching staff of head coach Jen Sewell, associate head coach Mary Jo Firnbach, and pitching coach Lauren Watts received the title of MVC Coaching Staff of the Year. This is the second straight time Coach Sewell and her staff have earned this honor and the seventh time total (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2024, 2025).
The Series and the Matchup
SIU is 65-37 all-time vs. Drake.
Tournament Schedule
Thanks to their first-round bye, Southern's run at the MVC Tournament begins on Thursday, May 8, versus Drake. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. If SIU wins their first matchup, they will play in the semi-finals on Friday, May 9, at 1 p.m. The championship game would then be player at 1 p.m. on Saturday, 1 p.m., if that is in the cards for Southern.
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: MVC Tournament
-Date: May 8-10
-Location: Buel Field, Des Moines, Iowa
-Opponents: No. 8 Drake
-Live Results: Thursday (11:30 a.m.) | Friday (1 p.m.) | Saturday (1 p.m.)
-Watch: Thursday (10 a.m.) | Friday (1 p.m.) | Saturday (1 p.m.)
-Listen: The Varsity Network
Last Time Out
The Salukis traveled to Evansville last weekend for their final regular season series.
Game one on Friday ended with an 11-0 run-rule win for SIU. Sage Grann led the way offensively with three hits and three RBIs. Emma Austin had a three-hit day too; the senior also snagged her 64th career stolen base, breaking the SIU softball record for career stolen bases. In the circle, Emma Gipson and McKenzie Newcomb combined for the six-inning shutout.
On Saturday, Evansville evened up the series with a 2-0 win. Six Salukis collected hits while Newcomb did the bulk of work pitching, allowing just one earned run over five innings of work.
Southern clinched the series win on Sunday with an 11-1 win. Anna Carder led the team with three RBIs, but close behind her was Jackie Lis and Emily Williams with two each. Williams' RBIs came courtesy of a two-run home run. Newcomb earned her 19th win of the season after throwing 3.2 innings of shutout ball.
With the win, SIU secured their second straight MVC Regular Season Championship, marking the first time softball has won back-to-back regular season title since 2004-05.
Weekly Honors
Following the Evansville series, a pair of Salukis were honored with weekly awards from the MVC. Austin was awarded her second MVC Player of the Week, while Williams was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week for the fifth time this season.
At Evansville, Austin hit for a batting average of .583, going 7-for-12 against the Purple Aces. The senior outfielder scored six runs, had one triple, and went a perfect 4-for-4 on stolen bases.
In Friday's game, Austin broke the career stolen base record with her 64th steal as a Saluki.
Williams had a batting average of .500 with one home run and four RBIs against Evansville. The sophomore also had an on-base percentage of .545 and slugging percentage of .800.
On Sunday, Williams hit her 16th home run of the season, which is tied for the second-most in a single-season in program history with Lis' 2024 campaign.
End of Season Honors
Earlier today, the MVC announced its end of the year award winners, and several Salukis earned themselves postseason honors.
Six Salukis landed on the First Team All-Conference team: Lis, Carder, Austin, Newcomb, Williams, and Mikaela Coburn. Southern's six All-MVC members tied the program record for the most in season, which was originally set in 2005. Additionally, Addi Baker landed on the Second Team All-Conference Team.
As for specialty awards, SIU received three.
Carder was named the Defensive Player of the Year while also earning a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Carder, the team's primary backstop, is the third Saluki to earn the title of Defensive Player of the Year, joining catcher Katelyn Massa from 2019 and second baseman Maddy Vermejan from 2018.
Meanwhile, Williams was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year, marking the first time a SIU player has captured this title. The sophomore transfer from Morehead State finished the regular season as The Valley's runner-up in home runs with 16 and led the MVC with her 51 RBIs.
Finally, Southern's coaching staff of head coach Jen Sewell, associate head coach Mary Jo Firnbach, and pitching coach Lauren Watts received the title of MVC Coaching Staff of the Year. This is the second straight time Coach Sewell and her staff have earned this honor and the seventh time total (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2024, 2025).
The Series and the Matchup
SIU is 65-37 all-time vs. Drake.
Tournament Schedule
Thanks to their first-round bye, Southern's run at the MVC Tournament begins on Thursday, May 8, versus Drake. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. If SIU wins their first matchup, they will play in the semi-finals on Friday, May 9, at 1 p.m. The championship game would then be player at 1 p.m. on Saturday, 1 p.m., if that is in the cards for Southern.
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.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
1B/OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF/C
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