Preview | Salukis and Morehead State Square Off in Weekend Series Starting Friday

Preview | Salukis and Morehead State Square Off in Weekend Series Starting Friday

03/13/2025 | 11:59:00 | Baseball

By: Tim McCaughan, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball plays host to Morehead State for a three-game weekend series starting Friday. The games will be split between Marion and Carbondale.

THE SCHEDULE
Friday – 3 PM – Mtn Dew Park in Marion, Ill. ($10 admissions)
Saturday – 2 PM – Itchy Jones Stadium
Sunday – 1 PM – Itchy Jones Stadium

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

Luke Martin will have the call all weekend. Fans can find the stream links HERE.
Fans can also follow along via live stats or on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.

THE PROBABLE STARTERS
LHP Jordan Huskey (1-2, 6.23 ERA) vs RHP Trevor Callahan (1-2, 6.89 ERA)
LHP Alec Nigut (4-0, 0.82 ERA) vs RHP Grant Herron (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
RHP Meade Johnson (0-1, 4.26 ERA) vs RHP Bradley Poynter (2-1, 5.24 ERA)

AROUND THE HORN

Offensive Dominance – The Salukis are batting .295 as a team, significantly outpacing their opponents, who are hitting .255.
Power at the Plate – Southern Illinois has crushed 25 home runs through 15 games, more than six times the four hit by their opponents. With 25 home runs, the team ranks first in the MVC and 23rd nationally. SIU is averaging 1.67 home runs per game.
Extra-Base Efficiency – The team has recorded 31 doubles and five triples, leading to an impressive .527 slugging percentage compared to their opponents' .368.
Plate Discipline – The Salukis have drawn 79 walks, 17 more than their opponents, contributing to a strong .408 on-base percentage.
Run Production – Southern Illinois has scored 122 runs and driven in 117 RBIs, significantly outperforming their opponents' 86 runs and 76 RBIs.
Stolen Base Success – The team has successfully stolen 19 bases in 26 attempts, while limiting their opponents to 13 stolen bases on 22 attempts.
Alec Nigut Dominates as Ace – Nigut leads the staff with a stellar 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, going 4-0 in four starts. He has allowed just two earned runs over 22 innings while holding opponents to a .153 batting average. His ERA ranks first in the MVC and 17th nationally.
Salukis Hold a Strong ERA Advantage Over Opponents – The team has a 4.90 ERA, significantly better than their opponents' 7.76 ERA. Saluki pitching has also struck out 110 batters compared to opponents' 97 while holding opposing hitters to a .255 average.
On-Base Percentage (OBP) – The team boasts an OBP of .408, ranking second in The Valley and 82nd nationally. This reflects their patience at the plate, as they are excellent at drawing walks (79) and creating scoring opportunities.
Hits Allowed Per Nine Innings – With a stellar 8.71 hits allowed per nine innings, they lead the MVC and 94th nationally. This statistic shows their strong pitching staff's ability to limit opposing hitters and control the game.
Earned Run Average (ERA) – The team's 4.90 ERA ranks second in the MVC and 95th nationally, reflecting solid pitching performance and effective run prevention throughout the season.

THE MATCHUP

Morehead enters the weekend at 6-9 overall. They enter play on a five-game losing skid though three of those losses came on the road at South Carolina.
The lone common opponent between SIU and MSU is Arkansas State. Morehead took two of three on the road at A-State.
Morehead State is hitting .273 as a team. Notably, Hayden Robbins (.323), Davis Germann (.305), and Andy Cisneros (.304) are key performers, each with strong slugging percentages above .730.
Morehead has shown notable power, with a combined 21 home runs through 15 games. Hunter Thomas leads the team with seven home runs and a slugging percentage of .661, while Davis Germann has added four home runs and 16 RBIs.
MSU has a solid on-base percentage of .427, thanks to 86 walks drawn. The offense also has 10 doubles and four triples.
Morehead's pitching staff holds a team ERA of 7.64 and has allowed opponents to hit .304, which highlights struggles in run prevention and control. The team has given up 156 hits and 109 earned runs in 128.1 innings.
The pitching staff has struck out 84 batters but also issued 98 walks, contributing to an elevated WHIP of 1.98.

THE SERIES

The Salukis and Morehead State have met on the diamond six times prior to this weekend. Southern holds a 4-2-1 advantage in the series that was first played in 1991 — a 1-1 tie in a neutral site matchup in Dayton, Ohio.
The two squads last met in 2020 in Morehead, Kentucky with SIU taking two of three on the road. Southern took the opener 13-7, fell in game two 11-7, and took the finale 22-5 to claim the series win.

AT THE PLATE

John Lemm's Power Surge – Lemm leads the team with a staggering .848 slugging percentage and has crushed five home runs in just 33 at-bats, making him the team's most efficient power hitter. His slugging percentage of .848 ranks first in the MVC and 40th nationally.
Jordan Bach's All-Around Production – Bach is hitting .381 to lead the Salukis with 24 hits, eight doubles, and a .458 on-base percentage.
Matt Schark's Consistency – Schark holds a .362 batting average and a 1.090 OPS in 58 at-bats. He leads the team with 14 RBIs and 39 total bases, including four home runs. His .672 slugging percentage and .418 OBP contribute significantly to the team's offensive depth.
Matt Schark's Run Production – Schark leads the team with 18 runs scored and has driven in 14 RBIs.
Cecil Lofton's Steady Contribution – Lofton, with a .267 batting average, has been consistent at the plate, contributing 16 hits and 14 RBIs. His .467 slugging percentage and ability to get on base (.338 OBP) have been valuable to the lineup. Lofton has also stolen two bases in three attempts.
Kristian Sprawling's Hot Bat – Sprawling is hitting .533 (8-for-15) with a 1.400 OPS in limited action.

ON THE RUBBER

Nigut's Dominance – Nigut has been a standout with an 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. He has a 4-0 record in four starts, allowing just two earned runs over 22 innings with 20 strikeouts, while opponents are hitting only .153 against him.
Sam Frizzi in Relief – Frizzi has yet to allow an earned run, boasting a 0.00 ERA in 4.2 innings. He has a dominant .071 opponent batting average and has earned two saves, showcasing his reliability in late-game situations.
Consistency – Dylan Petrey has been an effective bullpen option, posting a 0.96 ERA in 9.1 innings. He has allowed just one earned run, struck out 10 batters, and limited opponents to a .188 batting average.
Meade Johnson's Solid Start – Johnson has posted a 4.26 ERA in four starts, with 20 strikeouts over 19 innings. While he has allowed 12 runs, his 1.37 WHIP and .225 opponent batting average show he's been effective at limiting damage.
Jordan Huskey - Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio – Huskey has an excellent strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.75, ranking fourth in the conference and 121st nationally.

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 170-100 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.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X 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.