Preview | Baseball returns home for midweek clash with Arkansas State

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball returns to Itchy Jones Stadium for a midweek matchup with Arkansas State Tuesday in Carbondale at 6 p.m.

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THE PROBABLE STARTERS
The starters have yet to be determined.

QUICK HITS

Southern enters the matchup at 24-11 overall and 7-5 in Missouri Valley Conference play after dropping two out of three at Indiana State last weekend.
10 Salukis have five or more games with multiple hits. Matt Schark leads the way with 15 multi-hit games this season in 35 games. Schark and Jordan Bach have five three-hit games each.
SIU is a combined 20-3 when scoring seven or more runs.
Southern Illinois has outscored opponents 115-65 in the final three innings of play.
Southern is 17-0 this season when leading after six innings.

THE MATCHUP

Arkansas State enters Tuesday at 16-19 overall and 7-8 in Sun Belt Conference play after taking two of three from South Alabama last weekend.
BU is batting .251 as a team and is led by Ashton Quiller with a .318 average. Jake Henry Williams leads the team with four home runs, and Cross Jumper has knocked in 25 runs.
The Red Wolves' pitching staff holds a combined 3.82 earned run average, second in the Sun Belt.

THE SERIES

The Salukis will look to sweep the season series after a 7-5 win over the Red Wolves on February 25.
Southern leads the all-time series 55-27, with a 32-9 home record.

TEAM NOTES

Saturday's 16-9 win over Indiana State marked the 13th time the Salukis scored 10 or more runs.
The Salukis average 1.66 homers per game, a mark that ranks 17th nationally.
SIU is 15-2 when hitting two or more home runs in a game.
Offensively, the team has been strong all season, ranking second in the MVC with 304 runs scored and averaging 8.7 runs per game, third in the conference.
The Salukis boast a power lineup, ranking third in the MVC and 23rd nationally in slugging percentage (.526).
The team's 15 triples are the most in the MVC and tied for 12th nationally.
Four everyday players have a batting average of over .300.
Patience at the plate has paid off, as they have drawn 200 walks (second in the MVC, T-36th nationally), leading to a .412 on-base percentage (second in the MVC).
The Salukis have been aggressive on the base paths, stealing 52 bases to rank second in the MVC, averaging 1.49 per game.

On the mound, the team has posted a 5.68 ERA, second-best in the MVC, while allowing 9.60 hits per nine innings.
Saluki pitchers have held opponents to a .272 batting average (second in MVC).
The bullpen has been effective, recording nine saves.
Saluki pitchers have kept free passes in check, issuing just 150 walks compared to the 294 strikeouts.
Saluki pitchers have outperformed their opponents, as their 5.68 team ERA is significantly better than the 8.32 ERA posted by opposing staffs.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Tim Simay leads the team with a .369 batting average (eighth in MVC) and boasts the team's longest reached base streak at 17 games.
Jordan Bach leads the team and is third in the MVC with 16 doubles.
Matt Schark paces the lineup with 51 hits, 12 home runs and 47 RBIs (leads The Valley), posting a .711 slugging percentage, the highest among everyday starters. Schark leads all hitters with 10 multi-RBI games, including three four-RBI and two five-RBI outings. He also leads the team in OPS at 1.146
Nine players have at least 20 RBIs.

Alec Nigut has a 3.07 ERA which sits second in the MVC, while holding opponents to a .216 batting average, third in The Valley.
Sam Frizzi has been lights out in relief, recording a 2.33 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and five saves in 13 appearances. The five saves are tied for first in the MVC.
Dylan Petrey has been a reliable bullpen arm, striking out 39 batters in 29.1 innings while holding opponents to a .225 average.
Starters Alec Nigut and Tyler Timmerman have combined for 11 of the team's 25 wins.
Meade Johnson has logged the most innings for the Salukis with 43.0, striking out 45 batters while limiting opponents to a .244 batting average.

MIDSEASON POLL AND AWARDS

Southern Illinois was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason/Midseason Poll, the MVC announced on March 17. The Salukis picked up 86 points and four first-place votes while Missouri State was tabbed the favorite with 90 overall points and five first-place votes. Shortstop Jaxon Holder (SS) and left-hander Alec Nigut (SP/LHP) were selected as Preseason All-MVC players.

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 179-103 and a 63-36 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play.

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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