Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis open MVC Tournament play on Wednesday
05/23/2022 | 4:52:00 | Baseball
The 2022 MVC regular season champion Southern Illinois University Salukis head to Springfield, Mo. to take part in the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. Southern holds the No. 1 seed for the first time since 1990 and won all seven Valley series during the regular season while it did not lose a single three-game series all season long. SIU will play either Valparaiso, Missouri State or Illinois State tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
Game Notes
- Won the MVC regular season for the first time since 1990 and for the 8th time in school history.Â
- Won 40 games for a second consecutive season for the first time in school history.
- Won 16 MVC games; most since SIU won 17 MVC games in 2003.
- Won all 7 MVC series for the first time ever; first MVC team since Missouri St. (2018) to win every series.
- Only team in the country to win all its weekend series.
- Set the school record for consecutive MVC wins, 7.Â
- Never lost more than two games in a row (two times). Never lost consecutive MVC games.
- Led the MVC in total wins (40) and in road wins (17). SIU did not play any neutral site games.
- 28-1 when it scores first. 12-13 when the opponent scores first. 31-0 when it leads after 8 innings.
- 80 wins total over the last two seasons are tied for the 3rd most in consecutive seasons in school history. The SIU record for total wins in consecutive seasons is 87 (37 in 1973 and 50 in 1974). #2 is 86 (50 in 1974 and 36 in 1985). The 1976 and 1977 teams also combined for 80 victories.Â
- Won 31 MVC games over the last two seasons to become the league's winningest program in conference-only games. (See below).
Dallas Baptist        29-15-1  Â
Evansville           25-22
Indiana St         24-20-1  Â
Bradley           23-20
Missouri St. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 19-26
Illinois St. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 19-29
Valparaiso           14-34             Â
Current RPI (75) is the 2nd highest RPI in school history (RPI began in 2000) and is the highest since the 2007 team finished with a 72 RPI.Â
SIU's in the Top 100 in RPI for the 4th time in school history:
2007: Â 72
2022: Â 75
2002: Â 77
2021: Â 82\
Note: SIU was #40 in the RPI when the Covid pandemic shut down the 2020 season.
- For the first time in SIU history the team's entire starting INF (1B JT Weber, 2B Grey Epps, SS Kaeber Rog, and 3B Ryan Rodriguez) was selected All MVC First or Second team.
A full set of game notes can be found here.Â
Interviews
Longtime voice of the Salukis Mike Reis sat down with Kaeber Rog and J.T. Weber to discuss a wide-range of topics, with notable answers transcribed below. Fans can listen to Rog's interview here and Weber's here.
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His expectations when he came to SIU…
When I came here I didn't really expect anything. I didn't know what to expect or how hard the competition was going to be. I just wanted to play hard and see what would happen. But now that we won the regular season title, I've had a lot of fun. The competition is pretty hard. I've got teammates that hit pretty well, so we all push each other.Â
On his leg kick…
I've had it for a year and a half now. I did it last year too. It's been getting crazier and crazier though.
Whats the difference between his time at FIU and at SIU…
I am a much better offensive player. I think the environment at FIU wasn't as fun so I didn't feel as happy. Thats one of the main things- I feel much happier here. I feel freer. And I'm more experienced. I've learned a lot throughout my life. I've continued to work hard.
On baseball in Curacao….
In Curacao, baseball is the main sport and then soccer. Baseball and soccer- nothing else.
His feelings after winning the regular season title…
It hasn't fully set in that we won the regular season conference title for the first time in 32 years but as far as the achievement of the direct work that we put in, it does seem real. It is what we have been working for. It was kind of expected but also very exciting.
Why no dawg pile after the win over Illinois State…
Honestly we were excited but we wanted the outright championship because we felt like we earned it after we won every conference series. Especially after we took the series at Evansville, 2-1. It wasn't really til Evansville lost to Valparaiso that we took a deep breath and felt like we did.
Expectations for MVC Tournament
We expect to win the tournament. I don't know how others think we will do, but I would guess they don't think we can. That would just be my thought with our history at the tournament these past few years.
