Photo by: Abby Harris
Preview | Saluki Baseball Travels to Murray State for Key Valley Series
05/01/2025 | 12:25:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball will travel to Kentucky this weekend for an important three-game series with Murray State starting Friday at Reagan Field.
The Salukis (31-13, 12-6 MVC) enter the weekend one game back from first-place Missouri State (13-5 MVC) and tied for second with Murray State (30-11, 12-6 MVC) in the Missouri Valley Conference with just three weekends remaining in the regular season.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE (Updated due to weather May 3)
Friday – 6 p.m.
Sunday – 11:30 a.m.
Sunday – 3 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
• All three games will air on The Varsity Network with Luke Martin on the call.
• Live stats and in-game updates are available on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.
QUICK HITS
• Jordan Bach, Matt Schark, and Tim Simay each have 17 or more multi-hit games.
• John Lemm has reached base in 22 consecutive games.
• SIU is 25–6 when scoring six or more runs and 23–0 when leading after six innings.
• The Salukis have outscored opponents 132–71 in the final three innings.
• SIU has stolen 62 bases in 80 attempts, second in the MVC.
• The Salukis lead the MVC in triples (16), runs (379), hits (460, and walks earned (248).
LOOKING AT THE RACERS
• Murray State comes into play at 30-11 overall and 12-6 in the MVC. The Racers took two of three on the road at Indiana State before falling in a midweek contest on the road at SEMO.
• The Racers enter the weekend batting .309 as a team. Dom Decker leads the squad with a .384 average and a 1.053 on-base plus slugging percentage. He has recorded 53 hits, 15 doubles, and has drawn 30 walks.
• MSU pitchers own a 4.75 ERA, with Kane Elmy pacing the staff at 2.95 through 11 appearances and five starts.
SERIES HISTORY
• SIU leads the series with Murray State, 54-28 overall, including a 21-17 mark on the road.
• The Saluki dropped two of three last year to Murray State in Carbondale, winning the middle game of the series.
• It will be the second three-game road series that SIU will play in the series. The last time SIU traveled to Murray State for three games was the Racers' first year in the MVC in 2023 when MSU took two of three games.
TEAM NOTES
• Southern is batting .300 with a .414 OBP and .528 slugging percentage (19th nationally).
• The Salukis have hit 73 home runs and driven in 379 runs through 44 games (8.6 per game).
• SIU pitchers have compiled a 5.26 ERA (second in MVC), allowing 9.6 hits per nine innings.
INDIVIDUAL STANDOUTS
• Tim Simay is leading the Saluki squad with a .350 with a .450 OBP and is 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts. He has 50 hits with 16 being extra-base hits.
• Matt Schark leads the team with 14 homers, 57 RBIs, and a .642 slugging percentage.
• Schark sits tied for ninth in career home runs (27) and sixth in single-season home runs (15). He also sits just outside the single-season top-10 RBI list with 57 this season. The program record is held by Robert Jones who drove in 70 runs in 1986.
• Cecil Lofton is coming off his second MVC Player of the Week honor this season. He batted .438 last week with a .938 slugging percentage. In Friday's game against Illinois State, he drove in seven RBIs – one shy of tying the program's single-game record.
• Jordan Bach has 19 doubles and is hitting .324 with 55 hits.
• Gabe Petrucelli has scored a team-high 46 runs with eight home runs and a .579 slugging percentage.
• John Lemm owns 12 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 33 walks in 42 games.
• Jaxon Holder has 12 extra-base hits while also drawing 28 walks.
ON THE MOUND
• Alec Nigut is 7-1 with a 3.42 ERA across 10 starts, striking out 46 in 47.1 innings.
• Meade Johnson leads the staff with 52.0 innings and 49 strikeouts in 11 starts.
• Sam Frizzi leads the MVC with six saves and carries a 2.00 ERA over 27.0 innings. He is 3-2 in 18 appearances from the bullpen.
• Dylan Petrey holds a 4-3 record with 44 strikeouts in 37.0 innings.
• Tyler Timmerman is 5-2 with a 4.29 ERA and a .259 opponent average over 42.0 innings.
• Jackson Payne picked up two wins last week to move to 3-0 on the season. He pitched 5.2 innings last week and struck out nine while allowing no earned runs.
MVC POLL & HONORS
• SIU was picked second in the MVC Midseason Poll, receiving four first-place votes.
• Jaxon Holder and Alec Nigut were named Preseason All-MVC selections.
AT THE HELM
• Lance Rhodes is in his sixth season leading the Salukis, holding a 190–109 career record.
• Rhodes led SIU to back-to-back 40-win seasons in 2021 and 2022, a program first.
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.
The Salukis (31-13, 12-6 MVC) enter the weekend one game back from first-place Missouri State (13-5 MVC) and tied for second with Murray State (30-11, 12-6 MVC) in the Missouri Valley Conference with just three weekends remaining in the regular season.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE (Updated due to weather May 3)
Friday – 6 p.m.
Sunday – 11:30 a.m.
Sunday – 3 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
• All three games will air on The Varsity Network with Luke Martin on the call.
• Live stats and in-game updates are available on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.
QUICK HITS
• Jordan Bach, Matt Schark, and Tim Simay each have 17 or more multi-hit games.
• John Lemm has reached base in 22 consecutive games.
• SIU is 25–6 when scoring six or more runs and 23–0 when leading after six innings.
• The Salukis have outscored opponents 132–71 in the final three innings.
• SIU has stolen 62 bases in 80 attempts, second in the MVC.
• The Salukis lead the MVC in triples (16), runs (379), hits (460, and walks earned (248).
LOOKING AT THE RACERS
• Murray State comes into play at 30-11 overall and 12-6 in the MVC. The Racers took two of three on the road at Indiana State before falling in a midweek contest on the road at SEMO.
• The Racers enter the weekend batting .309 as a team. Dom Decker leads the squad with a .384 average and a 1.053 on-base plus slugging percentage. He has recorded 53 hits, 15 doubles, and has drawn 30 walks.
• MSU pitchers own a 4.75 ERA, with Kane Elmy pacing the staff at 2.95 through 11 appearances and five starts.
SERIES HISTORY
• SIU leads the series with Murray State, 54-28 overall, including a 21-17 mark on the road.
• The Saluki dropped two of three last year to Murray State in Carbondale, winning the middle game of the series.
• It will be the second three-game road series that SIU will play in the series. The last time SIU traveled to Murray State for three games was the Racers' first year in the MVC in 2023 when MSU took two of three games.
TEAM NOTES
• Southern is batting .300 with a .414 OBP and .528 slugging percentage (19th nationally).
• The Salukis have hit 73 home runs and driven in 379 runs through 44 games (8.6 per game).
• SIU pitchers have compiled a 5.26 ERA (second in MVC), allowing 9.6 hits per nine innings.
INDIVIDUAL STANDOUTS
• Tim Simay is leading the Saluki squad with a .350 with a .450 OBP and is 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts. He has 50 hits with 16 being extra-base hits.
• Matt Schark leads the team with 14 homers, 57 RBIs, and a .642 slugging percentage.
• Schark sits tied for ninth in career home runs (27) and sixth in single-season home runs (15). He also sits just outside the single-season top-10 RBI list with 57 this season. The program record is held by Robert Jones who drove in 70 runs in 1986.
• Cecil Lofton is coming off his second MVC Player of the Week honor this season. He batted .438 last week with a .938 slugging percentage. In Friday's game against Illinois State, he drove in seven RBIs – one shy of tying the program's single-game record.
• Jordan Bach has 19 doubles and is hitting .324 with 55 hits.
• Gabe Petrucelli has scored a team-high 46 runs with eight home runs and a .579 slugging percentage.
• John Lemm owns 12 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 33 walks in 42 games.
• Jaxon Holder has 12 extra-base hits while also drawing 28 walks.
ON THE MOUND
• Alec Nigut is 7-1 with a 3.42 ERA across 10 starts, striking out 46 in 47.1 innings.
• Meade Johnson leads the staff with 52.0 innings and 49 strikeouts in 11 starts.
• Sam Frizzi leads the MVC with six saves and carries a 2.00 ERA over 27.0 innings. He is 3-2 in 18 appearances from the bullpen.
• Dylan Petrey holds a 4-3 record with 44 strikeouts in 37.0 innings.
• Tyler Timmerman is 5-2 with a 4.29 ERA and a .259 opponent average over 42.0 innings.
• Jackson Payne picked up two wins last week to move to 3-0 on the season. He pitched 5.2 innings last week and struck out nine while allowing no earned runs.
MVC POLL & HONORS
• SIU was picked second in the MVC Midseason Poll, receiving four first-place votes.
• Jaxon Holder and Alec Nigut were named Preseason All-MVC selections.
AT THE HELM
• Lance Rhodes is in his sixth season leading the Salukis, holding a 190–109 career record.
• Rhodes led SIU to back-to-back 40-win seasons in 2021 and 2022, a program first.
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.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball9.12.25 | Saluki Radio Preview - UT Martin
Friday, September 12
Inside Saluki Athletics - September 9th
Friday, September 12
9.10.25 | Saluki Radio Football Podcast - UT Martin
Wednesday, September 10
9.9.25 | Coach Nick Hill Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, September 09