CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University softball head coach Jen Sewell has announced the signing of 2025 pitcher Hailey Lucas, a righty from Palatine, Ill.

“First of all, what a get for us on the pitching front,” Sewell said. “Fans are going to want to see Lucas and our other signee, [Brooklynn] Danielson, pitch beside each other. Lucas has incredible command, wicked spin and a dirty changeup. Between her and Danielson, we wanted to get two strikeout pitchers that could go multiple times through the lineup. Both keep the ball in the park and will fit their pitches like puzzle pieces to each other on the mound.”

Lucas comes to SIU by way of William Fremd High School, where she was a two-time All-State and All-Conference pitcher. The Palatine native is also two-time All-Area and Conference Co-Player of the Year.

As a junior, Lucas posted a 0.67 ERA with 276 strikeouts. The year prior, she hit for a .495 batting average and had 13 home runs.

Lucas has also played for IL Chill 18 Gold Club team at the club level.

“Hailey pitched incredibly well this summer with her Chill team against some of the top clubs and signees in the country,” Sewell said. “It’s fun to listen to her talk pitching as she really has an old school knowledge of how to get hitters out that we just don’t see a lot anymore with pitchers.”

Lucas joins a 2025 recruiting class that also includes infielder Jordan Stewart, pitcher Brooklynn Danielson, and center fielder/utility Delaney Osborne.