Conference Play Resumes as Salukis Welcome Illinois State

Friday, April 3

6 PM

Southern Illinois University

Illinois State

Kye Watson swings at a pitch during Southern Illinois' 3-1 loss to Lindenwood Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.

Photo by: Saluki Athletic Communications

04/02/2026 | 3:38:00 | Baseball

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois baseball program hosts Illinois State for its first home conference series beginning Friday, March 3, at Itchy Jones Stadium.

THE SCHEDULE

Friday — 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
Saturday — 7 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
Sunday — 3 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch

THE PROBABLE STARTERS

Friday: Andrew Evans (4-1, 1.76 ERA) vs. Thomas Harper (1-1, 6.59 ERA)
Saturday: Troy Shepard (0-2, 4.37 ERA) vs. Michael Addari (3-1, 0.84 ERA)
Sunday: TBD vs. TBD

AROUND THE HORN

Southern Illinois fell 3-1 to Lindenwood on Tuesday night.
Julio Guerrero slashed .375/.447/.938 during a seven-game stretch over the last two weeks. The Caracas, Venezuela, had an eight-game hitting streak, with eight of the extra-base variety. Five of his team-leading six home runs have come in that stretch. He added a stolen base to his Missouri Valley Conference-leading total on the season, currently sitting at 17.
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 have over 20 new pieces as the season begins. The roster consists of 13 seniors, 15 juniors, three sophomores and just two freshmen.

THE MATCHUP

Southern Illinois (10-17, 1-2 MVC) vs. Illinois State (19-10, 4-2 MVC)
The Redbirds hold a slight advantage over SIU, leading the all-time series 104-98. The Salukis took two of three at Itchy Jones Stadium in 2025.
After losing two of three at Evansville, Illinois State defeated Illinois 4-1 in a midweek matchup Tuesday night.
The Redbirds have been one of the best all-around teams in the MVC, as they lead the Missouri Valley Conference in several offensive categories such as batting average (.306), total hits (308) and sacrifice flies (22). On the pitching side, they rank first in The Valley with a 5.02 ERA, 8.80 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 1.42 WHIP.
Michael Addari has been a star in the rotation, leading the conference with a 0.84 ERA thus far. The right-hander will start game two of the series.
Brayden Bakes leads ISU and The Valley with a .398 batting average, 49 total hits and a .732 slugging percentage. Graham Mastros is tied for the league lead with 32 RBIs and 11 doubles. The duo is tied for The Valley's lead with 20 extra-base hits.

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. 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 5.68 team ERA and second in opponent batting average at .256.
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 ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference, hitting .325.
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.
Tim Simay is tied for ninth in the MVC with six doubles and tied for 10th with 32 total hits.
Julio Guerrero leads the league with 17 stolen bases in the young season and is tied for 28th nationally. He is tied with Simay for the team lead with 32 total hits, and leads SIU with six home runs, tied for sixth in The Valley. He also has six doubles, tied for fifth in the conference. His recent surge has him ranked in The Valley's top 10 of slugging percentage (.571, 5th), hit-by-pitches (9, T-4th) and sacrifice flies (3, T-5th).
Andrew Evans is second in the Missouri Valley Conference in ERA (1.76) and has 39 strikeouts, tied for the lead in the MVC. He also sports the league's second-best opponent batting average at 2.08
Troy Shepard is fourth in the league with an opponent batting average of .224.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
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