Photo by: Abby Harris
Preview | Saluki Baseball Welcomes Evansville for Final Home Series of 2025
05/08/2025 | 10:30:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois baseball will play host to Evansville for the final weekend series of the season starting Friday at Itchy Jones Stadium. SIU will honor its 2025 Senior Class prior to Sunday's series finale.
The Salukis (33-15, 13-8 MVC) enter the weekend two games back from first-place Missouri State (15-6 MVC), a game back from second-place Murray State (14-7 MVC) in the Missouri Valley Conference with just two weekends remaining in the regular season.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday – 6 p.m.
Saturday – 6 p.m.
Sunday – 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
• All three games will air on ESPN Plus. Luke Martin and Kirk Champion will call the action.
• Live stats and in-game updates are available on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.
QUICK HITS
• Southern enters the matchup at 33-15 overall and 13-8 in Missouri Valley Conference play after dropping two of three at Murray State last weekend. The Salukis defeated SIUE in midweek action on the road to improve to 20-7 in the nonconference slate.
• SIU is a combined 26-6 when scoring six or more runs.
• The Salukis are 25-0 this season when leading after six innings.
THE MATCHUP
• Evansville comes into the weekend at 14-33 overall and 8-13 in MVC action.
• UE has dropped five straight games after being swept at home against Belmont last weekend and falling in midweek action to Southern Indiana Wednesday.
• The Aces are hitting .265 as a team which ranks seventh in the MVC while holding an 8.38 combined ERA.
• Ty Rumsey (.326) and Cal McGinnis (.315) lead the squad at the plate. Rumsey has a team-best 29 stolen bases in 32 attempts. As a team UE has stolen 57 bases which ranks fifth in the MVC.
• On the mound, Kenton Deverman holds a 5.47 ERA in 10 starts for the Aces.
THE SERIES
• The Salukis lead the series with Evansville, 120-72.
• The Aces took two of three in Evansville last season, including an 11-10 walk-off win in 10 innings to win the series.
• The last time the two squads met in Carbondale was in 2023 when the Salukis claimed the series 2-1 after taking the final two games.
• Southern is 68-30 all-time against the Aces.
TEAM NOTES
• The Salukis have hit 79 home runs which ranks second in the MVC and 23rd nationally. The Salukis average of 1.65 per game to rank second in the MVC and 24th nationally.
• SIU is 18-3 when hitting two or more home runs in a game.
• Offensively, the team has been strong all season, ranking first in the MVC with 400 runs scored and averaging 8.3 runs per game, third in the conference.
• The Salukis boast a power lineup, ranking second in the MVC with a .518 slugging percentage which is 23rd in the nation.
• The team's 17 triples are the most in the MVC and tied for 17th nationally
• Four everyday players have a batting average of over .300, led by Tim Simay's .338 average.
• Patience at the plate has paid off, as the Salukis have drawn 270 walks (22nd nationally) leading to a .410 on-base percentage (2nd in the MVC and 54th nationally).
• The Salukis have been aggressive on the base paths, stealing 65 bases to rank second in the MVC, averaging 1.35 per game.
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• On the mound, the team has posted a 5.09 ERA, second-best in the MVC.
• The bullpen has been effective, recording 11 saves.
• SIU's five shutouts rank 12th nationally.
• As a squad, Southern pitching has a 1.55 WHIP to tank second in the MVC.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Tim Simay leads the team with a .338 batting average. Matt Schark hold a .323 average and leads the team with 64 base hits.
• Jordan Bach leads the team and is third in the MVC with 19 doubles.
• Matt Schark paces the lineup with 64 hits and 59 RBIs (1st in MVC). He has a .639 slugging percentage, the highest among everyday starters.
• John Lemm leads the Salukis and is seventh in the MVC with a 1.058 OPS.
• Lemm's 26 game reached base streak is one away from top-10 in program history. P.J. Finigan (2005) and Nikola Vasic (2018) held a 27-game reached base streak during their time on campus.
• Ten Salukis have at least 20 RBIs, and six have 30.
--
• Alec Nigut has a 4.01 ERA which is fifth in the MVC, while holding opponents to a .251 batting average and striking out 48.
• Sam Frizzi has been lights out in relief, recording a 2.12 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and seven saves in 20 appearances. The seven saves are tops in the MVC.
• Dylan Petrey has been a reliable bullpen arm, striking out 45 batters in 41.2 innings while holding opponents to a .244 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.
RHODES AT THE HELM
• Lance Rhodes is in 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 192-111.
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 (33-15, 13-8 MVC) enter the weekend two games back from first-place Missouri State (15-6 MVC), a game back from second-place Murray State (14-7 MVC) in the Missouri Valley Conference with just two weekends remaining in the regular season.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday – 6 p.m.
Saturday – 6 p.m.
Sunday – 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
• All three games will air on ESPN Plus. Luke Martin and Kirk Champion will call the action.
• Live stats and in-game updates are available on Twitter @SIU_Baseball.
QUICK HITS
• Southern enters the matchup at 33-15 overall and 13-8 in Missouri Valley Conference play after dropping two of three at Murray State last weekend. The Salukis defeated SIUE in midweek action on the road to improve to 20-7 in the nonconference slate.
• SIU is a combined 26-6 when scoring six or more runs.
• The Salukis are 25-0 this season when leading after six innings.
THE MATCHUP
• Evansville comes into the weekend at 14-33 overall and 8-13 in MVC action.
• UE has dropped five straight games after being swept at home against Belmont last weekend and falling in midweek action to Southern Indiana Wednesday.
• The Aces are hitting .265 as a team which ranks seventh in the MVC while holding an 8.38 combined ERA.
• Ty Rumsey (.326) and Cal McGinnis (.315) lead the squad at the plate. Rumsey has a team-best 29 stolen bases in 32 attempts. As a team UE has stolen 57 bases which ranks fifth in the MVC.
• On the mound, Kenton Deverman holds a 5.47 ERA in 10 starts for the Aces.
THE SERIES
• The Salukis lead the series with Evansville, 120-72.
• The Aces took two of three in Evansville last season, including an 11-10 walk-off win in 10 innings to win the series.
• The last time the two squads met in Carbondale was in 2023 when the Salukis claimed the series 2-1 after taking the final two games.
• Southern is 68-30 all-time against the Aces.
TEAM NOTES
• The Salukis have hit 79 home runs which ranks second in the MVC and 23rd nationally. The Salukis average of 1.65 per game to rank second in the MVC and 24th nationally.
• SIU is 18-3 when hitting two or more home runs in a game.
• Offensively, the team has been strong all season, ranking first in the MVC with 400 runs scored and averaging 8.3 runs per game, third in the conference.
• The Salukis boast a power lineup, ranking second in the MVC with a .518 slugging percentage which is 23rd in the nation.
• The team's 17 triples are the most in the MVC and tied for 17th nationally
• Four everyday players have a batting average of over .300, led by Tim Simay's .338 average.
• Patience at the plate has paid off, as the Salukis have drawn 270 walks (22nd nationally) leading to a .410 on-base percentage (2nd in the MVC and 54th nationally).
• The Salukis have been aggressive on the base paths, stealing 65 bases to rank second in the MVC, averaging 1.35 per game.
--
• On the mound, the team has posted a 5.09 ERA, second-best in the MVC.
• The bullpen has been effective, recording 11 saves.
• SIU's five shutouts rank 12th nationally.
• As a squad, Southern pitching has a 1.55 WHIP to tank second in the MVC.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Tim Simay leads the team with a .338 batting average. Matt Schark hold a .323 average and leads the team with 64 base hits.
• Jordan Bach leads the team and is third in the MVC with 19 doubles.
• Matt Schark paces the lineup with 64 hits and 59 RBIs (1st in MVC). He has a .639 slugging percentage, the highest among everyday starters.
• John Lemm leads the Salukis and is seventh in the MVC with a 1.058 OPS.
• Lemm's 26 game reached base streak is one away from top-10 in program history. P.J. Finigan (2005) and Nikola Vasic (2018) held a 27-game reached base streak during their time on campus.
• Ten Salukis have at least 20 RBIs, and six have 30.
--
• Alec Nigut has a 4.01 ERA which is fifth in the MVC, while holding opponents to a .251 batting average and striking out 48.
• Sam Frizzi has been lights out in relief, recording a 2.12 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and seven saves in 20 appearances. The seven saves are tops in the MVC.
• Dylan Petrey has been a reliable bullpen arm, striking out 45 batters in 41.2 innings while holding opponents to a .244 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.
RHODES AT THE HELM
• Lance Rhodes is in 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 192-111.
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
C/OF
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RHP
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OF/INF
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LHP
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RHP
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INF
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