Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University’s softball team is preparing for the upcoming Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament in Starkville, Mississippi. The tournament, hosted by Mississippi State and presented by Newk's Eatery, will see the Salukis compete against several teams over four days starting Thursday.

The Salukis, currently holding a 1-4 record, will first face the host school, No. 21 Mississippi State. Following this match, they will play North Texas twice on Friday and Saturday before concluding their weekend against Georgia Tech on Sunday.

Previously, SIU participated in the Tiger Invitational at Auburn University where they secured a single victory against Appalachian State but faced defeats from North Carolina and Auburn. Notable performances came from Anna Carder who batted .500 with a home run and six walks, and Jackie Lis who hit two home runs in their win over Appalachian State.

Transfers Mikaela Coburn and Maleah Blomenkamp also made significant contributions with batting averages above .350. Pitchers Emma Gipson and McKenzie Newcomb showed strong performances on the mound with Gipson maintaining a 2.71 ERA over 10.1 innings.

The Salukis have an even historical record against Mississippi State with each team winning six of their past encounters. They are currently on a three-game winning streak against them. This tournament marks the first meeting between SIU and North Texas while SIU holds a slight edge over Georgia Tech historically.

Fans can follow updates on social media or through the "Salukis" Mobile App available for download.