Friday, March 7
Carbondale, IL
6 PM
Southern Illinois University
vs
Bellarmine
Preview | Salukis welcome Bellarmine for weekend set
03/06/2025 | 10:50:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois baseball will put its seven-game win streak on the line when it hosts Bellarmine for a three-game set beginning Friday in Carbondale.
THE SCHEDULE
Friday – 6 p.m. CT, Live Stats
Saturday – 2 p.m. CT, Live Stats
Sunday – 1 p.m. CT, Live Stats
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow along via live stats or on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.
AROUND THE HORN
ON THE MOUND
RHODES AT THE HELM
THE SERIES & MATCHUP
MVC PRESEASON POLL
The league will announce its preseason 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 Instagram at @SIU_Baseball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
THE SCHEDULE
Friday – 6 p.m. CT, Live Stats
Saturday – 2 p.m. CT, Live Stats
Sunday – 1 p.m. CT, Live Stats
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow along via live stats or on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.
AROUND THE HORN
- The Salukis have won seven games in a row after sweeping Bowling Green and Southern Indiana in a four-game series at Itchy Jones Stadium.
- Cecil Lofton has three home runs and 10 RBIs on the young season, and his performance at Tennessee Tech earned him the Missouri Valley Conference's Player of the Week on February 25.
- Jaxon Holder leads Southern Illinois with 11 RBIs despite often hitting from the ninth spot in the lineup.
- Kaleb Hall etched his name in the SIU history books on February 24, after hitting two triples at Tennessee Tech, becoming the 13th Saluki to achieve such a feat.
- Gabe Petrucelli and John Lemm hit back-to-back home runs on consecutive days against Bowling Green on March 1 and 2.
ON THE MOUND
- Southern leads the Missouri Valley in earned run average (3.00) and saves (five) and has only allowed two home runs, the fewest in the conference.
- Friday's starter Jordan Huskey put together his best start of the season against USI on February 28, pitching five complete innings while allowing just two earned runs, three hits, and striking out five.
- Alec Nigut has been a top starting pitcher in The Valley in 2025. The left-hander has allowed a mere two runs in 17.0 innings pitched, sporting an ERA of 1.06 which is second in the MVC. He also leads the conference with three wins in three starts. In his last outing against Bowling Green, Nigut threw 7.0 innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits.
- Meade Johnson will once again start Sunday, slowly increasing his workload. The Mattoon native pitched 5.1 innings in Sunday's win against Bowling Green and currently holds a 4.15 ERA.
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 enters the series with an overall record of 167-99 and a 58-35 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play.
THE SERIES & MATCHUP
- The Salukis and Knights have only played twice in the school's history, the Salukis winning both matchups in Carbondale. The last came on May 14, 2024, as a 14-8 win for the Dawgs.
- Bellarmine began the 2025 season 0- but has picked up two wins in a row, one at Charleston Southern and one at home vs Dayton.
- Seth Sweet-Chick paces the Knights with 3 home runs and 11 RBIs.
MVC PRESEASON POLL
The league will announce its preseason 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 Instagram at @SIU_Baseball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
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OF/INF
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RHP
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/ Baseball
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INF
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