April 21, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Saluki softball team (24-19, 10-7 MVC) will step outside the Missouri Valley Conference for a non-league doubleheader against Tennessee-Martin (21-23, 7-8 OVC) on Tuesday at Charlotte West Stadium beginning at 3 p.m. The doubleheader will be the final two regular season home games for SIU, before hosting the MVC Tournament May 8-10.

The Salukis enter the non-conference twin bill on a three-game losing streak, after dropping all three games to Creighton at home during the weekend, but have still been solid in the last month with a 9-4 record. The Skyhawks enter the weekday series with a five-game winning streak after sweeping Tennessee State last weekend.

SIU beat UT-Martin 14-1 in the team's first meeting this season, back on Feb. 23 at the Middle Tennessee State Classic, in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Southern Illinois leads the all-time series with the Skyhawks, 10-0, and won both games of a doubleheader last year at UT-Martin, 4-0 and 9-0.

The Salukis will look to gain momentum out of conference before taking to the road for the final two weekends of Valley play. SIU will travel to Missouri State this weekend, April 26-27, and finish the conference regular season at Bradley, May 3-4.

Both games of Tuesday's doubleheader can be listened to live online through an internet-only webcast, or can be viewed by subscribing to DawgWatch.TV. To access the audio and video of the games, visit www.SIUSalukis.com.

Live game stats will also be available and can be accessed by visiting the SIU softball schedule page at www.SIUSalukis.com.