Carbondale Reporter

As the academic year nears its conclusion, Southern Illinois University's sports teams are gearing up for the final phase of their seasons. The women's golf team is actively competing in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, while the men's golf team is scheduled to join the competition over the coming weekend. Meanwhile, softball and baseball teams are deep into their conference contests, and the track and field team is set to compete at another MVC school for an upcoming meet.

In recent track and field events, Southern Illinois teams participated in the Cougar Classic at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The highlight of the meet was the SIU 4x100 relay team's gold medal performance, along with Kasha Neilly winning the 100-meter hurdle and Christian Coleman securing first place in the 110-meter hurdle. In the field events, Darrione Williams topped the podium in the men's long jump, and Darius Fullerthen excelled in the triple jump event. Coach Gregg said, “It was a solid performance by the team, and we’ll aim to keep the momentum going.” The team is preparing to compete in the Gibson Invitational, hosted by Indiana State University, from April 17 to April 18.

The softball team, with a record of 25-15 overall and 16-1 in conference play, had an impressive showing through Missouri, beginning with a victory against Missouri State. Anna Carder and Amanda Knutson were instrumental in the win. Following up, Southern Illinois defeated SEC competitor Missouri, with Emily Williams delivering a pivotal three-run home run. During a three-game set against Bradley, Williams hit a grand slam, and her outstanding form bore significant contributions to SIU sweeping the series. Coach Thompson said, “Our players showed great resilience and teamwork, especially in crucial moments.” The team is set to face Northern Iowa next in what is expected to be a keenly contested series.

The baseball team faced six games last week, splitting the tally with three wins and three losses. A doubleheader against Missouri State started the busy schedule, resulting in a split with an 8-7 walk-off victory in Game 2, highlighted by John Lemm's two home runs. The team’s series against Indiana State concluded with a loss, but a high-scoring win mid-series saw strong performances from Lemm and Tim Simay. "It's a learning experience for us," said Coach Kim, as the team prepares to host Arkansas State and Belmont in upcoming games.

Additional notes in Southern Illinois sports include the men's golf team participating in the Hawkeye Invitational and the women's golf team beginning play at the MVC Tournament. In football, the Salukis are gearing up for the Spring Game scheduled for April 19th.

Fans can follow the Salukis’ latest developments and results on their official social media pages and the "Salukis" Mobile App.