Carbondale Reporter

After competing away, the Southern Illinois softball team is scheduled to host UT Martin for a midweek game. This marks Southern Illinois' final non-conference game of the regular season.

The game is set for April 23 at 4 p.m. and will take place at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Live results can be accessed through the provided Statbroadcast link, and the game can be listened to via The Varsity Network.

Recently, SIU played a three-game series against Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, their first meeting since the previous year's Missouri Valley Conference Championship. Northern Iowa handed SIU its first series loss within MVC play.

In the first game, SIU was defeated 6-5. Emily Williams, Anna Carder, and Addi Baker contributed with home runs, while Baker added an RBI for Southern Illinois.

The following day, the teams played a doubleheader. SIU won the first game 12-6 in eight innings, with further contributions from Williams and Baker, along with RBIs from Jackie Lis, Sage Grann, and Amanda Knutson. However, Northern Iowa clinched the series by securing the second game 8-6, where Baker hit a grand slam and Knutson drove in SIU's remaining run.

Williams emerged from the series with recognition, being named the MVC Newcomer of the Week for the second consecutive week and the fourth time this season. Her performance included going 4-8, with three home runs, seven RBIs, four runs, and five walks. Williams now leads the MVC with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Southern Illinois and UT Martin have a history of 23 head-to-head games, with SIU leading the series 16-7. They last met on March 26, where UT Martin won 5-2. The previous game in Carbondale ended in a Southern Illinois victory with a 7-6 win on March 4, 2023.

UT Martin arrives with an overall record of 14-26 and 6-14 within Ohio Valley Conference play, currently on a seven-game losing streak since a 9-5 win against Morehead State on April 7.

For ongoing updates, Southern Illinois softball can be followed on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and through the Salukis Mobile App available on the App Store and Google Play Store.