Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University (SIU) softball team will conclude their regular season with a series against the Purple Aces in Evansville. The series will take place at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James & Dorothy Cooper Stadium from May 2 to May 4. The Salukis, who currently hold a record of 29 wins and 18 losses, will play against Evansville, whose current record stands at 18 wins and 31 losses.

Last weekend, the Salukis secured a series win against Murray State. The first game of the Saturday doubleheader ended with a 7-1 victory for SIU, driven by standout performances from Jackie Lis and Mikaela Coburn. The pitchers, McKenzie Newcomb and Emma Gipson, did not allow any earned runs. The second game on Saturday concluded in a 10-1 victory for Southern Illinois in just five innings. Notable performances came from Lis, Coburn, Sage Grann, and Alexis Rudd. The series ended on Sunday with a close 5-4 loss to Murray State.

In recognition of their performances, two Saluki players received weekly honors from the Missouri Valley Conference. Jackie Lis was named Player of the Week, marking her third time receiving this accolade. Her performance included a .700 batting average and a slugging percentage of 1.100. McKenzie Newcomb was named Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season. Her record for the week included a 0.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched.

As they head into the series against Evansville, the Salukis maintain an all-time record of 77 wins and 29 losses against the Purple Aces. The Purple Aces are currently experiencing a six-game losing streak. SIU will aim to extend their favorable record against Evansville, having swept them in their last home series.

Details of the upcoming games include live results and broadcasts on specified days. Fans can follow Southern Illinois softball updates on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. They can also access the latest information through the "Salukis" Mobile App.