Preview | Saluki baseball takes on UT Martin in midweek home-and-home

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois baseball will play a midweek home-and-home with UT Martin beginning Tuesday, Mar. 25 in Martin, Tenn. Wednesday's contest will be in Carbondale, and was originally scheduled for February 18 before inclement weather postponed the affair.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

Tuesday - 5 p.m., Live Stats, ESPN+, Twitter/X (@SIU_Baseball)
Wednesday - 6 p.m., Live Stats, Listen, Twitter/X (@SIU_Baseball)

THE MATCHUP

UT Martin comes into action at 10-13 overall. The Skyhawks hosted SEMO in their last weekend set, taking two of three in their Ohio Valley Conference opener.
The Skyhawks hold a team batting average of .295. T.J. Grines leads the team with a .400 batting average and led the team with 6 RBIs on March 21, when UT Martin scored 23 runs in a win against SEMO.
As a pitching staff, the Skyhawks hold a 7.16 ERA. They have combined for 144 strikeouts while issuing 118 walks in 23 games.

THE SERIES

Southern Illinois and UT Martin have met 48 times with SIU leading the series 36-12.
Southern had won the last four games before UT Martin's 8-7 win in 10 innings on Mar. 26, 2024, in Carbondale.
SIU is 12-3 against UTM at home and 14-7 on the road.

AT THE PLATE

Jordan Bach has excelled in the leadoff role this season, hitting .391 and leading the team with 13 doubles. One of his doubles was a walk-off RBI against UIC on Mar. 22.
Gabe Petrucelli has given the Saluki offense a much-needed lift as of late, taking over the team lead in OPS at 1.158.
John Lemm is the Saluki leader in home runs with seven, while Petrucelli and Matt Schark have smacked six each.
SIU has posted a .411 on-base percentage, with Bach (.491) and Tim Simay (.462) leading the way. The Salukis have also drawn 124 walks compared to 98 by their opponents.
The lineup's 39 home runs leads the Missouri Valley Conference. Southern also boasts top MVC marks in RBIs (168) and slugging percentage (.538).
The Salukis have been aggressive, swiping 29 bases on 38 attempts, led by Schark (5-for-7) and Petrucelli (5-for-6).
Schark continues to produce at the plate, hitting .345 with 6 home runs and a 1.066 OPS, while also driving in 22 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 1.69 ERA and a .194 opponent batting average while securing three saves in eight appearances.
The Saluki pitching staff has struck out 181 batters, ranking third in the Missouri Valley Conference, averaging 8.6 K/9 innings.
The team has allowed just 14 home runs (2nd fewest in the MVC) and has kept opponents to a .268 batting average.

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 174-102 and a 60-36 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play.

MVC MIDSEASON POLL

The Salukis were tabbed second in the MVC Preseason/Midseason poll, just four points behind Missouri State for first place after receiving 86 points (four first-place votes).

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.

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