Photo by: Madison Giltner
Preview | Saluki Baseball Closes Regular Season at Valparaiso Starting Thursday
05/14/2025 | 2:22:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Still in the hunt for a Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship, the Southern Illinois baseball team heads to Valparaiso for the final weekend series of the regular season.
The Salukis enter the weekend 15-9 in MVC play, sitting two games behind league-leading Missouri State (17-7) and one game behind Murray State (16-8). Missouri State and Murray State square off this weekend, and a sweep by SIU combined with the Racers taking two of three from Missouri State would create a three-way tie atop the standings.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thursday – 3 p.m.
Friday – 1 p.m.
Saturday – 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
• All three games will air on ESPN Plus. Todd Ickow and Leo Staudacher will call the action.
• Luke Martin will have the radio call for the Salukis on the Varsity Network.
• Live stats and in-game updates are available on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.
QUICK HITS
• Southern Illinois enters the series 36-16 overall and 15-9 in conference play after taking two of three from Evansville last weekend.
• The Salukis have won three straight, including a midweek win over SIUE to complete a season sweep of the Cougars.
• SIU is 29-6 when scoring six or more runs and remains unbeaten (28-0) when leading after six innings.
• With three home runs against SIUE, Southern set a new program record for home runs in a season, now with 89.
SCHARK ON ANOTHER LEVEL
• Matt Schark delivered a week for the ages, earning NCBWA National Co-Hitter of the Week and MVC Player of the Week honors. The senior slugger blasted five home runs in the Evansville series—one Friday, three Saturday, and another Sunday—before adding two more in Tuesday's win at SIUE.
• Schark set the program's single-season home run record with his 20th on Sunday, then claimed the single-season RBI record Tuesday with a seven-RBI performance against the Cougars, surpassing Robert Jones' 1986 mark. Over his last four games, Schark has hit seven home runs and tallied seven RBIs in both Saturday's win over Evansville and Tuesday's victory over SIUE.
• He is now tied for seventh in program history with 28 career home runs.
THE MATCHUP
• Valpo enters play at 8-39 overall and 3-21 in MVC play. Valpo has dropped their last 20 games.
• The Beacons are led at the plate by Liam Patton (.287, 47 H, 24 RBI) and Kevin Denty (.283, 43 H, 24 RBI).
• As a team Valpo holds an 8.52 ERA and has struck out 290 batters and issued 235 walks in 377.1 innings.
THE SERIES
• SIU leads the all-time series dating back to 1966, 12-11.
• The Salukis are 3-7 against the Beacons on the road.
• SIU has won three straight series' and five-straight games against Valpo.
TEAM NOTES
• SIU ranks 18th nationally and first in the MVC with 446 runs scored (8.6 per game, 25th nationally).
• The Salukis are 29th nationally and first in the MVC with 533 hits.
• SIU ranks 13th nationally and second in the MVC with 89 home runs (1.71 per game, 17th nationally).
• Southern ranks 14th nationally and second in the MVC with a .529 slugging percentage.
• SIU is 19th nationally and first in the MVC with 292 walks, helping produce a .412 on-base percentage (14th nationally).
• The Salukis rank 24th nationally and second in the MVC with 112 doubles (2.15 per game).
• SIU leads the MVC and ranks 19th nationally with 17 triples (0.33 per game, 28th nationally).
• The Salukis are 29th nationally and lead the MVC with 29 sacrifice flies.
• SIU is second in the MVC with 72 stolen bases (1.38 per game).
• On the mound, SIU ranks 86th nationally and second in the MVC with a 5.16 ERA while holding opponents to a .269 average.
• The staff has posted five shutouts, tied for 15th nationally and second in the MVC, and boasts an MVC-best 11 saves, including seven by Sam Frizzi.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Matt Schark ranks second nationally in home runs (22) and RBIs (77) while also leading the MVC in slugging (.738) and ranking second nationally in total bases (158).
• Jordan Bach is third in the MVC with 19 doubles.
• John Lemm has 15 home runs and 48 RBIs across 50 games, while his 30-game reached base streak is second in program history.
• Jaxon Holder owns a .436 on-base percentage with 45 hits and 33 RBIs.
• Kaleb Hall has 39 hits, including five triples and six home runs, while batting .310.
• Gabe Petrucelli leads the team with 52 runs scored and has nine home runs while batting .288.
• Michael Mylott and Cecil Lofton have both driven in 30 or more runs.
• Sam Frizzi leads the pitching staff with a 2.05 ERA and seven saves, topping the MVC and ranking 41st nationally.
• Dylan Petrey holds a 3.43 ERA with 46 strikeouts over 44.2 innings.
• Jackson Payne is 4-0 in 16 appearances with a 4.02 ERA.
• Alec Nigut leads the team with 53 strikeouts and owns the MVC's third-best strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.79).
• Meade Johnson has made 12 starts with 49 strikeouts over 53 innings.
• Al Holguin is 3-0 with a 4.86 ERA and has held opponents to a .219 average.
• Tyler Timmerman is 5-2 with a 5.25 ERA across 48 innings.
MIDSEASON POLL AND AWARDS
• Southern Illinois was picked second in the MVC Preseason/Midseason Poll, earning four first-place votes behind Missouri State's five.
• Jaxon Holder and Alec Nigut were selected as Preseason All-MVC honorees.
RHODES AT THE HELM
• Lance Rhodes is in his sixth season as head coach, guiding SIU to back-to-back 40-win seasons for the first time in program history (2021 & 2022). He owns a 195-112 record at SIU.
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 enter the weekend 15-9 in MVC play, sitting two games behind league-leading Missouri State (17-7) and one game behind Murray State (16-8). Missouri State and Murray State square off this weekend, and a sweep by SIU combined with the Racers taking two of three from Missouri State would create a three-way tie atop the standings.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thursday – 3 p.m.
Friday – 1 p.m.
Saturday – 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
• All three games will air on ESPN Plus. Todd Ickow and Leo Staudacher will call the action.
• Luke Martin will have the radio call for the Salukis on the Varsity Network.
• Live stats and in-game updates are available on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.
QUICK HITS
• Southern Illinois enters the series 36-16 overall and 15-9 in conference play after taking two of three from Evansville last weekend.
• The Salukis have won three straight, including a midweek win over SIUE to complete a season sweep of the Cougars.
• SIU is 29-6 when scoring six or more runs and remains unbeaten (28-0) when leading after six innings.
• With three home runs against SIUE, Southern set a new program record for home runs in a season, now with 89.
SCHARK ON ANOTHER LEVEL
• Matt Schark delivered a week for the ages, earning NCBWA National Co-Hitter of the Week and MVC Player of the Week honors. The senior slugger blasted five home runs in the Evansville series—one Friday, three Saturday, and another Sunday—before adding two more in Tuesday's win at SIUE.
• Schark set the program's single-season home run record with his 20th on Sunday, then claimed the single-season RBI record Tuesday with a seven-RBI performance against the Cougars, surpassing Robert Jones' 1986 mark. Over his last four games, Schark has hit seven home runs and tallied seven RBIs in both Saturday's win over Evansville and Tuesday's victory over SIUE.
• He is now tied for seventh in program history with 28 career home runs.
THE MATCHUP
• Valpo enters play at 8-39 overall and 3-21 in MVC play. Valpo has dropped their last 20 games.
• The Beacons are led at the plate by Liam Patton (.287, 47 H, 24 RBI) and Kevin Denty (.283, 43 H, 24 RBI).
• As a team Valpo holds an 8.52 ERA and has struck out 290 batters and issued 235 walks in 377.1 innings.
THE SERIES
• SIU leads the all-time series dating back to 1966, 12-11.
• The Salukis are 3-7 against the Beacons on the road.
• SIU has won three straight series' and five-straight games against Valpo.
TEAM NOTES
• SIU ranks 18th nationally and first in the MVC with 446 runs scored (8.6 per game, 25th nationally).
• The Salukis are 29th nationally and first in the MVC with 533 hits.
• SIU ranks 13th nationally and second in the MVC with 89 home runs (1.71 per game, 17th nationally).
• Southern ranks 14th nationally and second in the MVC with a .529 slugging percentage.
• SIU is 19th nationally and first in the MVC with 292 walks, helping produce a .412 on-base percentage (14th nationally).
• The Salukis rank 24th nationally and second in the MVC with 112 doubles (2.15 per game).
• SIU leads the MVC and ranks 19th nationally with 17 triples (0.33 per game, 28th nationally).
• The Salukis are 29th nationally and lead the MVC with 29 sacrifice flies.
• SIU is second in the MVC with 72 stolen bases (1.38 per game).
• On the mound, SIU ranks 86th nationally and second in the MVC with a 5.16 ERA while holding opponents to a .269 average.
• The staff has posted five shutouts, tied for 15th nationally and second in the MVC, and boasts an MVC-best 11 saves, including seven by Sam Frizzi.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Matt Schark ranks second nationally in home runs (22) and RBIs (77) while also leading the MVC in slugging (.738) and ranking second nationally in total bases (158).
• Jordan Bach is third in the MVC with 19 doubles.
• John Lemm has 15 home runs and 48 RBIs across 50 games, while his 30-game reached base streak is second in program history.
• Jaxon Holder owns a .436 on-base percentage with 45 hits and 33 RBIs.
• Kaleb Hall has 39 hits, including five triples and six home runs, while batting .310.
• Gabe Petrucelli leads the team with 52 runs scored and has nine home runs while batting .288.
• Michael Mylott and Cecil Lofton have both driven in 30 or more runs.
• Sam Frizzi leads the pitching staff with a 2.05 ERA and seven saves, topping the MVC and ranking 41st nationally.
• Dylan Petrey holds a 3.43 ERA with 46 strikeouts over 44.2 innings.
• Jackson Payne is 4-0 in 16 appearances with a 4.02 ERA.
• Alec Nigut leads the team with 53 strikeouts and owns the MVC's third-best strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.79).
• Meade Johnson has made 12 starts with 49 strikeouts over 53 innings.
• Al Holguin is 3-0 with a 4.86 ERA and has held opponents to a .219 average.
• Tyler Timmerman is 5-2 with a 5.25 ERA across 48 innings.
MIDSEASON POLL AND AWARDS
• Southern Illinois was picked second in the MVC Preseason/Midseason Poll, earning four first-place votes behind Missouri State's five.
• Jaxon Holder and Alec Nigut were selected as Preseason All-MVC honorees.
RHODES AT THE HELM
• Lance Rhodes is in his sixth season as head coach, guiding SIU to back-to-back 40-win seasons for the first time in program history (2021 & 2022). He owns a 195-112 record at SIU.
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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