Emily Williams and Brooklynn Danielson of the Southern Illinois University Salukis Women’s Softball team received Missouri Valley Conference weekly honors following the team’s 4-0 week against SIUE and UIC, according to a May 5 announcement.
These awards recognize individual achievements during an important stretch of the season as the Salukis prepare for the upcoming conference tournament. The recognition highlights both offensive and pitching contributions that supported their recent victories.
For the second time this season, Williams was named MVC Player of the Week, while Danielson earned MVC Pitcher of the Week. Danielson also received D1Softball’s Week 13 Mid-Major Freshman of the Week award for her first time. This marks Williams’ third career Player of the Week honor, with previous recognitions on March 17 this year and April 14 last season. In four games played, Williams went “7-for-14 with two home runs, nine RBI, three doubles, two runs scored, and a team-leading 1.143 slugging percentage.” She also recorded a .563 on-base percentage. On Saturday at UIC, she broke SIU’s single-season RBI record with a three-run double in the third inning: “This gave Williams 58 RBI on the year, breaking Jackie Lis’ record of 57 that was set in 2023.”
Danielson previously earned MVC Pitcher of the Week honors on April 14. The freshman posted a “2-0 record with a 0.64 ERA in three appearances,” allowing just two runs (one earned), six hits, two walks over eleven innings pitched and recording eight strikeouts. In game one at UIC on Friday she “tossed a complete game with just three hits and one run (zero earned) allowed.” An SIU pitcher has now won this award in three out of four recent weeks.
The Southern Illinois University Salukis Women’s Softball team participates in NCAA Division I competitions as part of collegiate athletics and maintains membership in the Missouri Valley Conference; it is based in Carbondale, Illinois where it hosts games at Charlotte West Stadium according to the official website.
Williams, Danielson and their teammates will enter this week’s MVC Tournament as No.2 seed in Carbondale; their first game is scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m., facing either Murray State or Evansville.
