Southern Illinoise University Athletics
This Week in Saluki Athletics: March 23-29
03/23/2026 | 2:13:00 | General
CARBONDALE, Ill. – As the weather continues to warm in Carbondale, Southern Illinois' spring sports continue to get deeper into their seasons. Softball had their first road, Missouri Valley Conference series of the year while baseball opened their MVC schedule. Meanwhile, swim and dive's season came to close at the NCAA Championships while track and field began their outdoor season.
Softball (17-11, 6-2)
Softball hit the road for the first time in conference play this past weekend and dropped two games to Illinois State.
First was a 4-0 loss in game one of Friday's doubleheader. Maleah Blomenkamp was the lone Saluki with more than one hit while Hailey Lucas pitched all six innings of the game and allowed just two earned runs.
SIU got redemption in game two, beating the Redbirds 9-0. Sydney Potter and Hayden Kurtz both hit homeruns as seven Salukis drove a run in. On the mound, Brooklynn Danielson allowed just one hit in the five-inning shutout.
Southern was walked off to end the series on Saturday, 5-4. Kurtz and Emily Williams hit homers for the Salukis while Amanda Knutson had an RBI as well.
The Salukis are back at home this weekend as they welcome Belmont for a weekend series. On Friday, March 27, the two play at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. They conclude the series on Saturday, March 28, with a 1 p.m. game.
Baseball (9-13, 1-2)
In addition to a midweek loss, baseball opened up MVC play this weekend.
On Tuesday, they fell to UT Martin 7-6 in 10 innings. Each Saluki run was driven in by a different player while eight of SIU's 10 pitchers used combined to allow just two earned runs.
The Salukis then visited UIC this weekend for the first conference series of the year and opened the slate with a 5-4 win on Friday. Home runs came courtesy of Julio Guerrero and Kaleb Hall as they combined for all of SIU's RBIs. Andrew Evans was stellar in his start, allowing no earned runs across five innings of work.
Southern was then walked off in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, 10-9. Guerrero, Jacob McKenzie, and Jackson Dibble all had home runs with McKenzie compiling a whopping five RBIs.
SIU was walked off again in game two on Saturday, 6-5. Tim Simay and McKenzie both had two RBIs.
It is back to non-conference play this week for baseball. On Tuesday, March 24, they visit UT Martin for a rematch at 5 p.m. They then host Utah Tech for a weekend series. On Friday, March 27, they play at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28, brings with it a 2 p.m. and the series wraps up on Sunday, March 29, at 1 p.m.
Men's Golf
Men's golf completed their run at the Seminole Classic last week, where the team finished 11th. Jaeseung Na and Anthony De Schutter both had good tournaments, with Na finishing 19th with a score of +5 while De Schutter tied for 22nd at +6.
The squad now has some time off before competing at the Racer Intercollegiate on April 6 and 7.
Swim and Dive
Olivia Herron competed at the Women's NCAA Championships this past weekend. Her best result came in the 200-breaststroke, where her time of 2:07.89 placed her 13th, earning her a Second-Team All-American title. Additionally, that time reset the MVC and program record for the event.
Track and Field
Track and field's outdoor season began last weekend at the Margaret Simmons Invitational, where the Salukis placed second in total points, as 10 Salukis and relay teams captured first-place finishes.
The squad now prepares for the Joey Haines Invite on April 3 and 4.
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.
Softball (17-11, 6-2)
Softball hit the road for the first time in conference play this past weekend and dropped two games to Illinois State.
First was a 4-0 loss in game one of Friday's doubleheader. Maleah Blomenkamp was the lone Saluki with more than one hit while Hailey Lucas pitched all six innings of the game and allowed just two earned runs.
SIU got redemption in game two, beating the Redbirds 9-0. Sydney Potter and Hayden Kurtz both hit homeruns as seven Salukis drove a run in. On the mound, Brooklynn Danielson allowed just one hit in the five-inning shutout.
Southern was walked off to end the series on Saturday, 5-4. Kurtz and Emily Williams hit homers for the Salukis while Amanda Knutson had an RBI as well.
The Salukis are back at home this weekend as they welcome Belmont for a weekend series. On Friday, March 27, the two play at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. They conclude the series on Saturday, March 28, with a 1 p.m. game.
Baseball (9-13, 1-2)
In addition to a midweek loss, baseball opened up MVC play this weekend.
On Tuesday, they fell to UT Martin 7-6 in 10 innings. Each Saluki run was driven in by a different player while eight of SIU's 10 pitchers used combined to allow just two earned runs.
The Salukis then visited UIC this weekend for the first conference series of the year and opened the slate with a 5-4 win on Friday. Home runs came courtesy of Julio Guerrero and Kaleb Hall as they combined for all of SIU's RBIs. Andrew Evans was stellar in his start, allowing no earned runs across five innings of work.
Southern was then walked off in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, 10-9. Guerrero, Jacob McKenzie, and Jackson Dibble all had home runs with McKenzie compiling a whopping five RBIs.
SIU was walked off again in game two on Saturday, 6-5. Tim Simay and McKenzie both had two RBIs.
It is back to non-conference play this week for baseball. On Tuesday, March 24, they visit UT Martin for a rematch at 5 p.m. They then host Utah Tech for a weekend series. On Friday, March 27, they play at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28, brings with it a 2 p.m. and the series wraps up on Sunday, March 29, at 1 p.m.
Men's Golf
Men's golf completed their run at the Seminole Classic last week, where the team finished 11th. Jaeseung Na and Anthony De Schutter both had good tournaments, with Na finishing 19th with a score of +5 while De Schutter tied for 22nd at +6.
The squad now has some time off before competing at the Racer Intercollegiate on April 6 and 7.
Swim and Dive
Olivia Herron competed at the Women's NCAA Championships this past weekend. Her best result came in the 200-breaststroke, where her time of 2:07.89 placed her 13th, earning her a Second-Team All-American title. Additionally, that time reset the MVC and program record for the event.
Track and Field
Track and field's outdoor season began last weekend at the Margaret Simmons Invitational, where the Salukis placed second in total points, as 10 Salukis and relay teams captured first-place finishes.
The squad now prepares for the Joey Haines Invite on April 3 and 4.
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
P
/ Softball
/ Men's Golf
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
INF
/ Softball
1B/3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Baseball
/ Men's Golf
C/INF
/ Softball
INF/C
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