Preview | Salukis Host Western Illinois in Midweek Matchup Tuesday

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball welcomes Western Illinois to Itchy Jones Stadium on Tuesday for Military Appreciation Day. The first pitch with the Leathernecks is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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

THE PROBABLE STARTERS

Southern Illinois will look to Tyler Timmerman on the mound. Timmerman comes into the matchup with three starts under his belt this season and a 1-1 record. He has allowed eight runs (6.00 ERA) in 12 innings of work while striking out six.
WIU will start Jorge Romero. The right-hander has made six appearances for the Leathernecks this season and holds an 0-1 record and a 9.20 ERA over 14.2 innings.

THE MATCHUP

Western Illinois comes into action at 5-11 overall. WIU and Illinois State played four games last week with the Redbirds taking three of the four meetings.
As a team, WIU is hitting .281 with Liam Bushey leading the way with a .359 average and 14 RBIs in 16 starts. Tyler Large is batting .343 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.
As a pitching staff, the Leathernecks hold an 8.27 ERA. They have combined for 84 strikeouts while issuing 73 walks in 16 games.

THE SERIES

Southern Illinois and Western Illinois have met 55 times on the diamond with SIU leading the series 45-10.
Southern has won 24-straight meetings with WIU with the last loss coming in 1965 when the Leathernecks won 6-3 in 10 innings.
The last time the squads met was in a midweek game last season when SIU won 12-11 in 12 innings.
SIU is 32-6 in Carbondale all-time against WIU and 13-4 on the road.

AT THE PLATE

Jordan Bach has been the Salukis' most consistent hitter, leading the team with a .400 batting average, 1.168 OPS, and 10 doubles while driving in 12 runs.
John Lemm leads the team with six home runs in 46 at-bats, posting a team-high .739 slugging percentage and 1.214 OPS.
The Salukis have four players with double-digit RBIs, led by Lemm (16), Holder (15), Lofton (15), and Schark (15).
SIU has posted a .419 on-base percentage, with Bach (.511) and Lemm (.475) leading the way. The Salukis have also drawn 110 walks compared to just 72 by their opponents.
The lineup has combined for 38 doubles, 6 triples, and 31 home runs, boasting a .533 slugging percentage, compared to a .392 mark by opponents.
The Salukis have been aggressive, swiping 24 bases on 31 attempts, led by Schark (4-for-4) and Petrucelli (4-for-5).
Matt Schark has been a force, hitting .362 with four home runs and a 1.084 OPS, while also driving in 15 runs.

ON THE RUBBER

Alec Nigut has been dominant, boasting a 0.99 ERA (1st in the Missouri Valley Conference) and a 0.80 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .165 batting average over 27.1 innings pitched.
Sam Frizzi has been lights out in relief with a 1.23 ERA with a .125 opponent batting average while securing two saves in six appearances.
The Saluki pitching staff has struck out 146 batters, ranking second in the Missouri Valley Conference, averaging 8.7 K/9 innings.
The starting rotation has logged 18 starts with a combined 3.98 ERA, led by Nigut's dominant outings and Meade Johnson's 27 strikeouts over 25.1 innings.
The bullpen has contributed six saves, with a combined 4.11 ERA, holding opponents to a .241 batting average in relief situations.
The Salukis' staff has issued just 72 walks (1.52 per game), compared to 110 by their opponents.
The team has allowed just 8 home runs (2nd fewest in the MVC) and has kept opponents to a .268 batting average, compared to the .296 average against opposing pitchers.

The staff has held opponents to a .268 batting average overall, but just .215 with runners in scoring position.

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 171-101 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
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