Preview | Saluki Baseball Set for Midweek Matchup at UT Martin Tuesday

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball continues its road swing to open the 2024 season with a midweek game at UT Martin Tuesday night at 3 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can also follow along via live stats or on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.

PITCHING MATCHUP
SIU: Alec Nigut (LHP) vs UTM: Davis Gaston (RHP)

AROUND THE HORN

The three-game sweep of Northwestern State marks the first time that SIU has swept a single opponent to open the season since 2017 when the Salukis defeated Stetson on the road. Southern did open the Lance Rhodes era in the 2021 season with three straight victories – however, the wins were over three different opponents.
SIU leads the nation in base on balls after earning 37 walks in three games to open the year.
The Salukis rank seventh nationally in scoring (14.3) and eighth in runs (43).
SIU's .339 batting average is third in the MVC and 41^st nationally after opening weekend.
Right-hander Aidan Foeller dominated in his debut, striking out eight and allowing just one hit in five innings Friday night.
The Salukis are perfect on stolen base attempts, going 6-for-6 at NSU.

2024 DAWGS

With a bevy of new faces on the roster, Southern Illinois will look to several key returners for leadership this season. The Salukis return starters Matt Schark (1B), Steven Loden (2B), Cole Christman (C) as well as outfielders Nathan Bandy and Bennett Eltoft to the lineup.
On the mound the Salukis return key pieces in Jake Combs, Easton Dermody, Scott Harper, Shane Wilhelm, Ben Riffe as well as Mike Hansell who missed last season with injury.
Like in previous seasons, the Salukis will have over 20 new pieces as the season begins with the roster consisting of just 18 seniors and 17 juniors.

DOUBLE PLAYS

The Salukis led the nation in double plays (61) and double plays turned per game (1.07) in 2023.
SIU has led the MVC in turning double plays in seven of the last 10 seasons. SIU led the MVC in double plays in 2013, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 2023. The Salukis were second in the MVC in 2016.

RHODES AT THE HELM

Lance Rhodes enters his fifth season at the helm of the program, leading the team to 40 or more wins during two of the last three seasons -- including the first back-to-back 40-win seasons in program history (2021 & 22).
Rhodes enters the year with an overall record of 129-69 and a 46-30 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play.

THE SERIES & MATCHUP

Southern Illinois and UT Martin have met 46 times with SIU leading the series 35-11 and have won the last three meetings. SIU is 13-7 against the Skyhawks on the road.
The 2024 UT Martin baseball team features 26 returners from last year's squad while 14 newcomers will don the Orange and Blue for the first time to aid in the search of the program's first OVC Championship.
UT Martin opened their year with Northern Kentucky, falling to the Norse in two of the three games.

THE BIG FLY

Steven Loden hit a home run in each game to open the year at Northwestern State.
As a team, the Salukis hit the third-most home runs in program history in 2023 with 79 bombs, averaging 1.39 home runs per game.
Steven Loden and Pier-Olivier Boucher finished second and fourth, respectively in single-season home runs in 2023. Loden sent 18 homers out which ranked second while Boucher hit 16 home runs to tie for fourth place.

WINNING AT THE ITCH

SIU started the Lance Rhodes era by winning 13 consecutive home games (5-0 in 2020 (COVID), started 8-0 in 2021). Overall, SIU is 74-24 at Itchy Jones Stadium under head coach Lance Rhodes.

MVC PRESEASON POLL

Indiana State was picked in a poll of league head coaches to win the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference baseball title. The Sycamores are defending regular-season and tournament champions. ISU received 95 total points and eight of 10 first-place tallies in this season's poll, while Missouri State and Evansville earned the other two first-place votes. The Bears finished second in this year's poll with 89 points, while Evansville is in the No. 3 spot with 81 points. Murray State (4th, 67 points) and Southern Illinois (5th, 63 points) are tightly bunched for the next two spots, followed by Belmont (6th, 40), Illinois State (7th, 39), UIC (8th, 34), Valparaiso (9th, 22), and Bradley (10th, 20).

PRESEASON MVC HONORS

Right-hander Jake Combs was named Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference. A Second Team All-MVC selection a year ago, Combs led the team in ERA with a 2.97 mark in 63.2 innings across 16 appearances, including 15 starts. In MVC play Combs held opponents to a 2.01 ERA in 31.1 innings.

DAWGS WITH WALK-OFF MAGIC

Southern Illinois recorded six walk-off wins in 2023 and have 11 walk-off wins under Lance Rhodes.

5/9/23 vs SIUE - Matt Schark - RBI Single to LF
4/18/23 vs APSU - Matt Schark - RBI Single to RF
4/16/23 vs UE - Nathan Bandy - RBI Single to RF
4/6/23 vs BEL - Matt Schark - Solo Home Run
3/28/23 vs UTM - Matt Schark - E4 Fielding Error
3/25/23 vs UIC - Steven Loden - 3-Run Home Run

FAST FACTS

Bob Goalby was a letter winner for the Saluki Baseball team in 1948, just the second year as a program. He went on to star in another sport: He won the 1968 Masters, defeating, among others, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Sam Snead.
SIU has led the MVC in turning double plays in seven of the last 10 seasons. SIU led the MVC in double plays in 2013, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 2023. The Salukis were second in the MVC in 2016.
The Salukis are one of the most senior-laden teams in the nation with 18 on the roster this season.

Utah Valley – 20
Texas State – 18
Houston – 18
Notre Dame – 18
Southern Illinois – 18
Georgetown – 17
Incarnate Word - 17

SIU BASEBALL: A RICH HISTORY

Southern Illinois has made five College World Series appearances, finishing second in the nation twice (1968, 71) and third twice (1974, 1977).
SIU has produced 25 Major Leaguers. Some notable MLB Salukis include Steve Finley, Duane Kuiper, Dave Steib, Jerry Hairston Jr., Al Levine, Jason Frasor, and Jim Dwyer.
The Dan Callahan MVC Baseball Coach of the Year award is the only Valley coaching award in any sport named after a former coach. Callahan coached SIU from 1994-2010, amassing 595 wins. In the decade of the 1970's, Southern Illinois had the second-best winning percentage in all of Division I baseball, trailing only Texas. SIU was 383-106-3 (.782) from 1970-79.
The Salukis have won eight Missouri Valley Conference championships. All but one came during a 16-year stretch from 1975-90. (SIU was independent in baseball before joining the MVC in 1975). Southern claimed its eighth Valley title and the program's first in 32 years in 2022 after going 16-5 in conference play.

UP NEXT
The Salukis will continue play on the road with a weekend series at Central Arkansas starting Friday.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Baseball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiBaseball, and on Instagram at @SIU_Baseball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.

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