March 28, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

Game Notes

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team (15-15, 3-3 MVC) returns home to Charlotte West Stadium for a three-game series with Missouri Valley Conference rival, and 2007 NCAA Tournament participant, Illinois State (11-12, 1-2 MVC) this Saturday and Sunday.

The series will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12 p.m., and conclude with a single game on Sunday at noon.

The Salukis enter the series with a four-game losing streak, while Illinois State is coming into the three-game set after losing two out of three games to Missouri State in conference play last weekend.

SIU trails in the all-time series with the Redbirds, 61-46, and split the season series last year, 2-2. The Salukis lost two out of three games in Normal, Ill. at the end of April, but downed Illinois State, 3-0, in the second round of the MVC Tournament to earn a spot in the championship game against Creighton.

The Salukis and Redbirds have won the MVC regular season championship in three out of the last four years, with SIU winning in 2004 and 2005, and Illinois State in 2006.

Following the three-game series with Illinois State, SIU will remain at home for a weekday non-conference doubleheader against Saint Louis on Wednesday, April 2, and take on Indiana State at home for a three-game series Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6.