Preview | Salukis and Western Kentucky Put Streaks on the Line Tuesday in Bowling Green

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball puts its 10-game winning streak on the line Tuesday afternoon on the road against another red-hot club in Western Kentucky. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. from Bowling Green.

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

AROUND THE HORN

Southern Illinois sits at 11-3 overall on the season and are winners of 10 straight games.
SIU's 10-game streak is tied for 10th nationally with LSU and Tuesday opponent Western Kentucky.
SIU is hitting .301 on the season, ranking second in the Missouri Valley Conference and 64th in the nation, while also ranking 57th nationally in on-base percentage (.415) and 25th in slugging percentage (.539).
Southern has plated 120 runs this season, leading the conference and ranking 66th nationally while scoring 8.6 runs per game (45th in the nation).
The pitching staff holds the best ERA in the conference (3.55, 37th nationally) and also leads in WHIP (1.32, 55th nationally) and hits allowed per nine innings (7.94, 55th nationally).
Southern has shown gap-to-gap power recording 31 doubles (3rd in the MVC, 78th nationally) and five triples (1st in the MVC, 42nd nationally).
The Salukis have drawn 96 walks (second in the MVC, 76th nationally) and have been hit by 21 pitches (4th in conference, 140th nationally), helping fuel their high-scoring offense.
SIU has swiped 17 bases (3rd in the MVC, 147th nationally) and is averaging 1.21 stolen bases per game (149th nationally).
The Salukis have executed well in clutch spots, ranking second in the MVC with six sacrifice flies and ranking second in the MVC in shutouts (1).
SIU has recorded a grand slam in two of its last three games, including a pinch-hit grand slam from Mason Schwalbach to give the Salukis a lead in the eighth inning of the Sunday finale against Bellarmine.

THE PROBABLE STARTERS

Southern Illinois will look to Tyler Timmerman on the mound Tuesday at WKU. Timmerman comes into the matchup with two starts under his belt this season and a 2-0 record. He has allowed three runs (2.79 ERA) in 9.2 innings of work while striking out five and allowing a .229 average against.
Lucas Litteral will make his sixth appearance and his first start of the season for Western Kentucky. Litteral is 0-0 with a 4.05 ERA in 6.2 innings. He has seven strikeouts and has allowed three earned runs on the season.

THE MATCHUP

Western Kentucky comes into action at 15-1 overall, and winners of 10-straight games.
WKU has played 14 games at home and are 14-0.
The lone loss on the schedule came on the road at Murray State when WKU fell 2-1 in extra innings to the Racers.
Western Kentucky leads in Conference USA and 39th nationally in batting average with a .317 average. They are also leading the conference in on-base percentage (46th nationally) at .423.
The team boasts an ERA of 2.29, ranking first in Conference USA and third nationally.
With a .969 fielding percentage (6th in CUSA), Western Kentucky has shown strong defensive abilities. They also turn 0.88 double plays per game, ranking third in the conference.
Western Kentucky leads Conference USA in stolen bases (37) and stolen bases per game (2.31). Their speed on the base paths has led to 8.2 runs per game.

THE SERIES

Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky have met 41 times prior to Tuesday's game with the Salukis leading the series 26-15.
SIU is 13-12 in Bowling Green while sitting at 13-3 in games played in Carbondale.
This is the first meeting between the two programs since the 2015 season when SIU was swept by WKU in a weekend series.
SIU has dropped the last five games to WKU with the last win coming in 2014 in the series opener on the road, winning 3-2.

AT THE PLATE

The Salukis are led offensively by Jordan Bach, who boasts a .400 batting average, 24 hits, and a .471 on-base percentage.
Gabe Petrucelli and John Lemm have hit back-to-back home runs on three seperate occasions this season.
Matt Schark is the team's power bat with four home runs, a .709 slugging percentage, and a team-best 39 total bases.
Jaxon Holder has been a clutch run producer, driving in 12 RBI in just 30 at-bats while hitting .333. He also has eight walks and a .475 on-base percentage.
John Lemm leads the team in on-base percentage (.512) and is tied for the team lead in home runs (4).
Cecil Lofton is a key defensive leader with 111 putouts and a .992 fielding percentage, while also contributing three home runs.
Mason Schwalbach has been a steady presence defensively, posting 80 putouts with a perfect fielding percentage.
Kaleb Hall has shown patience at the plate, drawing 10 walks for a .400 OBP.
The Salukis have been aggressive on the basepaths (17-24 SB), with Schark (3-3) and Petrucelli (3-4) leading the team in stolen bases.

ON THE RUBBER

Alec Nigut has been outstanding, posting a 0.82 ERA across 22 innings with only seven walks. Opponents are hitting just .153 against the lefty.
Dylan Petrey (0.96 ERA) has been excellent out of the bullpen, allowing just one earned run in 9.1 innings while holding hitters to a .188 average.
Gavan Wernsing (2.38 ERA in 11.1 IP) has been reliable, limiting opponents to a .244 batting average with five strikeouts.
Meade Johnson (4.26 ERA, 20 K in 19.0 IP) has been a key rotation arm, limiting hitters to a .225 average.
Jordan Huskey (6.23 ERA, 1-2 record) has recorded 19 strikeouts in 17.1 innings.
Tyler Timmerman (2.79 ERA, 1-0) has been effective in his two starts, giving up only three earned runs in 9.2 innings.
Al Holguin (4.50 ERA in 4.0 IP) has provided solid innings in relief, striking out four.
Nigut and Petrey have been dominant, combining for a 0.86 ERA across 31.1 innings.
SIU's bullpen has several high-strikeout arms, including Gerdes (7 Ks in 3.2 IP) and Huskey (19 Ks in 17.1 IP).

WHAT'S BACK FOR THE SALUKIS

Jordan Bach is the lone Saluki returner from the 2024 starting lineup, where he split time in the outfield and at the catcher position. Bach batted .299 and tallied six home runs to go along with 35 RBIs.
Redshirt senior Matt Schark returns after missing most of 2024 with an injury. He was a member of the All-MVC Honorable Mention team in 2023 when he hit 11 home runs and drove in three game-winning RBIs.
Consistent with previous seasons under Rhodes, the Salukis will have over 20 new pieces as the season begins with the roster consisting of 17 seniors, 15 juniors, and just two sophomores on the roster. SIU carries no freshmen on the 2025 roster.

RHODES AT THE HELM

Lance Rhodes enters his sixth season at the helm of the program, leading the team to 40 or more wins during two of the last four seasons -- including the first back-to-back 40-win seasons in program history (2021 & 22).
Rhodes holds an overall record of 170-99 and a 58-35 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play.

MVC MIDSEASON POLL

The league will announce its preseason/midseason poll and all-conference team on Monday, March 17, ahead of the beginning of Valley play, slated to start on Friday, March 21.

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