Carbondale, Ill. – Maddia Groff was named D1Softball’s Freshman of the Week Tuesday morning after an impressive opening weekend to say the least. Groff made her Saluki debut in the circle in game one of the season with her twin sister Rylinn behind the plate also making her Saluki debut.
The lefty, Groff, made history against the Bluejays, becoming the first pitcher to throw a 7-inning perfect game in program history. Groff retired all 21 Creighton batters she faced with eight total strikeouts in her first time stepping into the circle at the college level. Groff would go on to come in for relief in Southern’s second game of the day against UTSA. In a one-run game, Groff came in and threw 4.2 more perfect innings to wrap up her first day of college softball retiring the first 35 batters she faced. On the weekend, Groff threw a total of 18.2 innings earning herself a 3-0 record, two complete games, 16 strikeouts, just one earned run, and zero walks.
Southern Illinois has now had back-to-back years with a freshman being named D1Softball’s National Freshman of the Week after Jackie Lis was recognized a season ago. Lis was also named to the D1Softball Freshman All-American team after a record-setting rookie season.
