ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Jackie Lis and Emily Williams of the Southern Illinois University softball team have earned weekly accolades from the Missouri Valley Conference after SIU’s 5-0 week vs. Missouri State and Valparaiso.
Lis was named the MVC Player of the Week for the second time this season while Williams was awarded her second MVC Newcomer of the Week honors of the year, as announced by the league on Monday.
The junior shortstop posted a batting average of .583 in five games during Southern’s undefeated week. Lis went 7-for-12 with two home runs, six RBI, nine runs scored, three doubles, and 10 walks.
Lis finished the week with a .773 on-base percentage and 1.333 slugging percentage.
Williams earned MVC Newcomer of the Week honors after hitting for a batting average of .438, going a combined 7-for-16 against the Lady Bears and Beacons. The sophomore hit four home runs and had 14 RBI, six runs scored, and posted a slugging percentage of 1.250.
In the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Valparaiso, Williams tied the program single-game record with eight RBI in SIU’s 18-3 win over the Beacons.
Southern Illinois, who now sits at 16-14 overall and a perfect 8-0 in conference play, is tied for the second-longest winning streak in the country at 11 consecutive wins. The Salukis will next travel to Nashville, Tenn., for a weekend series at Belmont, which begins on Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m.
Missouri Valley Conference Weekly Award Winners
Player of the Week – Jackie Lis, Southern Illinois
Pitcher of the Week – Maya Johnson, Belmont
Freshman of the Week – Rylee Spindler, Belmont
Newcomer of the Week – Emily Williams, Southern Illinois
