Preview | Salukis Welcome Houston Christian for Three-Game Series Starting Thursday

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Saluki baseball returns home for a three-game series against Houston Christian this weekend. The series will begin a day earlier than usual with the opening game set for Thursday at 2 p.m.

The opener was originally scheduled for 6 p.m. but anticipated weather pushed the game to a 2 p.m. start time.

THE SCHEDULE
Thursday – 2 p.m.
Friday – 6 p.m. - *Weather likely to change start time
Saturday – 12 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can listen to the games on The Varsity Network with Mike Trude handling the play-by-play duties. Fans can also follow along via live stats or on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.

WEEKEND ROTATION
TBA

THE SERIES & THE MATCHUP

It will be the first-ever meeting between Southern Illinois and Houston Christian (Previously Houston Baptist).
HCU comes into play at 7-6 overall after taking three of four last weekend at home against Eastern Michigan. It will be the first time outside the state of Texas for HCU.
HCU senior outfielder Samuel Benjamin was named a first-team preseason All-Southland Conference selection.
During the 2023 season, Benjamin led HCU with 48 RBI while batting .354 on the season. He tied for the team lead with 11 home runs and ranked second on the team with 36 runs scored, 14 doubles, and 111 total bases.

AROUND THE HORN

Southern Illinois has drawn 97 walks to lead the MVC and rank fourth in the nation. SIU has four players who have 18 or more walks this season led by Jake Allgeyer who has 18 to lead the country. Saluki designated hitter Bennett Eltoft has 17 walks which is third nationally.
In 12 games the Saluki offense has scored 111 runs to rank second in the Valley and rank 29th in the nation. It's 9.2 runs per game ranks 35th in the country.
Steven Loden leads SIU with five home runs and 17 RBIs.
Anthony Kodama and Trey Cutchen have a team-high four doubles. Jordan Bach and Mathieu Vallee have three each.
SIU is 15-for-17 on stolen base attempts. Jake Allgeyer and Mathieu Vallee led the squad with three each.

ON THE MOUND

SIU Friday night starter Aidan Foeller is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts. He leads the team with 20 strikeouts in 12.1 innings.
Ben Riffe has made four relief appearances and struck out seven in 3.2 innings.
Alec Nigut is 2-0 in three midweek starts for the Salukis. He has struck out 11, walked three and holds an 8.53 ERA in 12.2 innings.

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 holds an overall record of 133-74 and a 46-30 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play.

THE BIG FLY

SIU's 12 home runs rank fifth in the MVC. Loden leads the team with five.
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.

LET'S TURN TWO

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.
Southern has turned 10 double plays this season and has hit into just one.

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 the 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.

UP NEXT
The Salukis will travel to Lindenwood on Tuesday with the first pitch set for 5 p.m.

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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