The Southern Illinois University Salukis women’s softball team will play a doubleheader against Murray State on April 21, following a three-game sweep of Northern Iowa. The games are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky, and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
This matchup is important as the Salukis look to maintain their position near the top of the Missouri Valley Conference standings. Southern Illinois currently holds second place in the conference with a record of 17-5 in MVC play and an overall record of 28-14. Their current three-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the league.
During their recent series against Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois honored seniors Erin Lee, Haley Wilkerson, and Brooklyn Pritchett. The team outscored its opponent by a combined score of 10-5 over three games and posted a team earned run average (ERA) of 1.33 for the series. Key performances included Maleah Blomenkamp’s game-tying hit in game one, Hayden Kurtz’s go-ahead RBI, Emily Williams driving in two runs during game two, and Amanda Knutson hitting a three-run home run in game three.
Pitcher Emily Delgado had what was described as one of her strongest weeks with two wins and one save while not allowing an earned run across three appearances. “The Corona, Calif., native’s 2.70 ERA currently ranks fifth in the MVC while her four saves are the third-most in the conference,” according to team statistics from this season.
The upcoming games also carry historical significance; Southern Illinois has won eight out of its last nine matchups against Murray State and leads their all-time series with an 18-6-1 record over twenty-five meetings.
The Salukis compete at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois according to the official website. They participate as members of NCAA Division I athletics within the Missouri Valley Conference according to official sources.
Looking ahead after Tuesday’s doubleheader, both teams continue their push for postseason positioning within conference standings.
