Baseball Returns to The Itch to Host Utah Tech

Friday, March 27

6 PM

Southern Illinois University

Utah Tech

Henry Kufa signals a celebration to his dugout during SIU's 8-2 loss to UT Martin on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Martin, Tenn.

Photo by: Abby Harris

03/26/2026 | 2:56:00 | Baseball

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois Baseball begins an eight-game homestand when it hosts Utah Tech for a three-game series at Itchy Jones Stadium beginning Friday, March 27.

THE SCHEDULE

Friday — 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Listen
Saturday — 2 p.m. | Live Stats | Listen
Sunday — 1 p.m. | Live Stats | Listen

THE PROBABLE STARTERS

Friday: Andrew Evans (3-1, 2.12 ERA) vs. Jackson Price (0-1, 4.91 ERA)
Saturday: Troy Shepard (0-2, 5.22 ERA) vs. Dakoda West (2-2, 5.68 ERA)
Sunday: Meade Johnson (0-1, 4.91 ERA) vs. Brandon Kosel (2-0, 1.88 ERA)

AROUND THE HORN

Southern Illinois fell 8-2 to UT Martin on Tuesday night.
Julio Guerrero has been a constant presence recently, slashing .368/.500/.947. The Caracas, Venezuela, native tallied a hit in each of the last five games, including five of the extra-base variety. In the March 20 win at UIC, he delivered his biggest swing of the season with a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning. He added a stolen base to his Missouri Valley Conference-leading total on the season, currently sitting at 16.
SIU hit a school-record 113 home runs last season, with a large portion of that power returning, led by Michael Mylott and Gabe Petrucelli. The pitching staff also brings back experience, including weekend starter Meade Johnson and reliever Dylan Petrey, while several newcomers are expected to play key positions early in the season.
Consistent with previous seasons under Rhodes, the Salukis will have over 20 new pieces as the season begins. The roster consists of 13 seniors, 15 juniors, three sophomores and just two freshmen.

Lance Rhodes is in his seventh 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 205-130 record at SIU, reaching the 200-win mark in a March 3 victory over North Dakota State.

THE MATCHUP

Southern Illinois (9-14) vs. Utah Tech (16-9)
Friday's matchup will be the first between the programs.
The Trailblazers have played much of the West Coast's best competition, including BYU, Santa Clara, Fresno State and UNLV. In four games against Fresno State and UNLV, Utah Tech won three of four including a two-game sweep over Fresno State.
Petey Soto Jr. leads the Trailblazers with a .395 batting average this season, fourth in the Western Athletic Conference. Miller Durham and Ryan Kroepel are tied for the team lead with five home runs, while Kroepel and Kyle McDaniel lead Utah Tech with 25 RBIs.
Brandon Kosel has been the WAC's best starting pitcher in the young season, leading the conference with a 1.88 ERA. He is slated to start Sunday's game.

MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL

Southern Illinois was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. Murray State was selected as the conference favorite, followed by SIU, UIC, Illinois State, and Indiana State.

Six Salukis were named to the MVC Players to Watch list:

Simay led SIU with a .351 batting average last season, while Petrey was a key arm out of the bullpen and earned All-MVC Honorable Mention honors.

The Salukis enter the season with an experienced roster, including only a handful of underclassmen, and relying heavily on leadership with experience in the Saluki Baseball program.

ON THE DIAMOND

Southern Illinois returns big offensive production from last season's lineup, including several of the team's top run producers and power hitters. Petrucelli and Mylott headline a group that helped set the program's single-season home run record.

ON THE MOUND

SIU brings back key arms to anchor the pitching staff, including Meade Johnson and Dylan Petrey. Petrey is expected to play a major role in late-inning situations. The Salukis have also added several transfers, including Andrew Evans, who has been the Friday starter this season. The Kansas State transfer features a fastball that tops out in the mid-90s with multiple wipeout pitches and has been one of The Valley's best arms early on.
The Salukis are currently third in The Valley with a 5.79 team ERA and second in opponent batting average at .259.
The bullpen has collected six saves, tied for second in the conference.

SIU ranked 25th nationally and second in the MVC with 500 runs scored in 2025, and led the league with 8.8 runs per game.
The Salukis were 42nd nationally with 603 hits.
SIU ranked 10th nationally and first in the MVC with 113 home runs.
Southern ranks sixth nationally and led the MVC with a .555 slugging percentage.
The Salukis were tied for 30th nationally and tied for second in the MVC with 124 doubles.
SIU was second in the MVC and ranked 28th nationally with 17 triples.
The Salukis were tied for 24th nationally and led the MVC with 33 sacrifice flies.
SIU was second in the MVC with 81 stolen bases.
The staff posted five shutouts, tied for 21st nationally and second in the MVC, and boasted 12 saves.

LEAD DAWGS

Kye Watson was the top Saluki hitter in the opening series at Oral Roberts. The freshman from Lititz, Pa., went 5-for-11 at the plate and hit two solo homers in his debut series for Southern, and leads the team with a .969 OPS. He ranks third in the Missouri Valley Conference, hitting .361, and sixth with a .557 slugging percentage.
Charlie Miller made the most of his first appearance out of the bullpen, pitching three shutout frames with three strikeouts in the opening victory at Oral Roberts.
Cecil Lofton is tied for the team lead with four home runs, tied for seventh in the MVC. He ranks seventh in slugging percentage (.554).
Tim Simay is tied for ninth in the MVC with six doubles and tied for seventh with 29 total hits.
Henry Kufa is 10th in The Valley with a .433 OBP.
Julio Guerrero leads the league with 16 stolen bases in the young season and is tied for 23rd nationally. After his two-run home run on Tuesday night, he is now tied for the team lead with four home runs, tied for seventh in The Valley. He also has six doubles, tied for fifth in the conference.
Andrew Evans is second in the Missouri Valley Conference in ERA (2.12) and has 35 strikeouts, tied for the lead in the MVC. He also sports the league's second-best opponent batting average at .195.
Troy Shepard is third in the league with an opponent batting average of .239.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter 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.